Chapter Two

The Beginning at the End

"Lucy? Lucy, are you there? This is Kate. You were supposed to be at the banquet an hour ago. Nate is driving over right now to check on you."

Lucy listened as the answering machine clicked at the end of the message. So Nate was coming. Well, he wouldn't find her here. Just fifteen minutes and she would be meeting Harold Saxon in a tiny cafe, and she knew that something amazing would happen after that. She touched up her make-up and tucked in stray tendrils of hair, then did a little twirl in front of the mirror. Her dark blue dress, trimmed in red, set off her blond hair. Delicate pearl earrings dangled from her ears, Christmas gifts from Nate.

"Goodbye, boring Nate," she laughed. "Hello, Harold Saxon."

She checked her watch and then headed for the door.

The cafe was dark when she arrived, and she looked around for a minute before getting out of the car.

"Mr. Saxon? Are you there?" she called in a low voice. "Mr. Saxon?"

There was silence. The street itself was deserted, and the only light came from a dim street lamp. Lucy shivered and started to turn back and get back in her vehicle. "Mr. Saxon?" she called once more.

"Please, call me Harry."

Her heart gave a sharp lurch at the voice, which had come from directly behind her. A hand was laid on her shoulder and he turned her around. "Ah, Lucy, there you are."

"Mr... Saxon!" she gasped. "I mean... Harry."

He smiled and said in a silky smooth voice, "Are you ready?"

"Where are we going?"

"I told you. The end of the universe."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. Get in the car. Take me back to where you met me earlier."

When they got there, Harry jumped out, took her hand, and led her to the blue box. He unlocked the door and peered inside.

"Blast that Doctor," he muttered. Then he stepped in. "Are you coming?"

"I don't understand..." Lucy began.

"Of course you don't, you humans. But come in and see!"

"Am I safe?"

"Of course you are. It's been stabilized. I've got control."

"No, I mean, am I safe with you? I don't exactly know who you are."

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the box. "I am the Master," he whispered. "You aren't safe with me, but I can take you home now and you can go back to your life as if nothing had ever happened: safe, bored, law-abiding. Is that what you want?"

She stepped back with a small shriek as she saw where she was. A huge room, lit with a blue light, humming and beeping and so alive.

"Welcome to my Tardis, Lucy," said Harry, letting go of her. "I'm going to take you to the end of the universe like I said. I want you to meet my friends."

Lucy put her hand over her mouth, gasping and trying to speak. Harry did not wait for a reply but went to the center of the room and began turning dials, pulling levers, pushing buttons, fiddling with switches. The sound she had heard earlier that day began again, and suddenly she made her choice. She lunged for the door and tried to open it, but she heard that disquieting laugh again.

"It's locked, Lucy! You can't run away now."

Suddenly the Tardis gave a lurch and Lucy lost her balance.

"Oh, did I not mention?" Harry laughed again. "Hold on tight!"

She pulled herself up and clung to a metal projection on the wall. "What's happening?"

"Time travel, Lucy. Time travel!"

Her head spun and she felt like she was going to be sick. "You're insane, Harold Saxon!" she screamed. "Let me out!"
He said nothing, just kept looking at her with that smile on his face. For two minutes the Tardis rocked and swayed and then it settled down.

"We've arrived, Lucy." Harry jumped down the steps and took her hand. "Let's see what we see."

He opened the door and they looked outside into a dark place, with a howling wind blowing in their faces but no other noise.