The Doctor, the Master, and Morvva stood outside the Doctor's TARDIS in the Council Chamber. Several cases of jellybabies were already stacked by the TARDIS door.
Morvva looked hopefully at the Doctor. "Doctor, may I go inside your TARDIS to help Lazarrn and Miss Brown carry out boxes?" At the Doctor's nod, Morvva disappeared eagerly into the time machine.
A guard entered the Council Chamber and headed towards the Master. He was carrying the Master's previously-confiscated possessions in his hands. As he approached the two Time Lords, the Doctor and the Master each made a grab for the tissue elimination compressor.
The Master won.
"You needn't look so worried, Doctor. I have no interest in using this at the moment." He put his cherished weapon away carefully.
"I must admit that's a relief," replied the Doctor. "Why so magnanimous?"
"I feel I owe you something for getting me out of jail, although your intervention was quite unnecessary. I'm sure that eventually I would have escaped on my own."
"Well! Your gratitude is certainly underwhelming! As long as you're in such an expansive mood, tell me why you didn't try to take over this planet using your influence as my 'oldest friend in the galaxy.' I'm sure you could have convinced these friendly, naive souls that you spoke for me."
The Master didn't see any need to bore the Doctor with tedious explanations about quiet holidays. "Let us simply say that the natives here have abysmal taste. I have no interest in any planet that considers you someone to look up to." The Doctor laughed good-naturedly.
The guard assigned to return the Master's belongings had left the chamber and Peri, Morvva, and Lazarrn were still in the Doctor's TARDIS. Now that they were alone, there was something the Master wanted to know. "Doctor," he asked quietly, "why didn't you let them execute me? For a while there, I thought you were going to."
The Doctor looked steadily at the Master. "You have done many things in your lives for which you deserve to be executed," he replied, "but stealing my Temporal Regulator is not one of them! I prefer to let the punishment fit the crime." Saved by a cliché! thought the Master.
Peri, Lazarrn, and Morvva emerged from the TARDIS, each carrying several cases of jellybabies. "This is the last one of them," Peri puffed, dropping her batch on the floor.
Lazarrn set his load down a bit more carefully. He looked awed. "So many. For over a century we have had only the one in the reliquary."
The Doctor spoke. "What was stopping you from making your own? The technique is not that much beyond your present level of technology. I'm sure you could have figured it out."
Morvva was surprised. "You mean, it would have been all right with you?"
"Of course it would have been all right with me. I don't understand why you even ask." It was the Doctor's turn to be surprised.
Morvva and Lazarrn exchanged glances. Suddenly uncertain, they explained Yyrikk's centuries-long philosophy to the Doctor.
The Doctor said gently, "I'm sure I would have been very flattered if I had known how your ancestors felt. But I never meant for them to interpret my words as a reason to halt all progress."
Morvva said, "So we have been wrong all this time." He smiled a little sadly. "It seems we will be in for quite a few changes in the near future."
The Master spoke drily. "Well, at least you have an expert on change in your Council."
Morvva looked relieved at the thought. "Yes, Reserakk has ... where is Reserakk?"
Peri asked, "Is he the young dark-haired one?" At Lazarrn's nod she went on, "He left immediately after you confirmed the Doctor's identity. He looked very unhappy. I meant to ask why, but in all the excitement I forgot."
Morvva said thoughtfully, "It must have upset him very much to have the Doctor come back. He was convinced that the Doctor was a fairy tale invented to discourage resourcefulness and motivation. Lazarrn, send the guards to fetch Reserakk." Lazarrn hurried to summon the guards.
Very shortly two guards presented a sullen Reserakk to the head of the Council. "Reserakk," said Morvva solemnly, "it appears the Council owes you an apology."
Reserakk looked confused. "I do not understand. Now that the Doctor has returned, I should think everything is going your way." He shot a resentful glance at the Time Lord.
"Reserakk," said the Doctor, "I've had a talk with Morvva and Lazarrn here, and I think we straightened out a few things. You will no longer be held to the past for the way you live, but I want to caution you that change for the sake of change is no better than stagnation. Before you throw away what you have, you must know clearly where you are going, and what your goals are." He turned to Lazarrn and Morvva. "And you can't base the new way on the new me. The change must come from your people, from what they want and need." He stopped, embarrassed. "I'm not very good at this kind of thing."
A cynical smile touched the Master's lips. "You should be. You're certainly good enough at interfering in the first place."
"And you're not?" retorted the Doctor.
"Ah, but I always have a purpose for becoming involved. With you, it just seems to happen. Do correct me if I'm wrong."
The Doctor looked intently at the Master. "You know, I think it's about time for us to go," he said. "Would you like a lift to your TARDIS, Master?"
"Thank you, no, Doctor. I'll be more likely to get there if I walk." Peri snickered quietly. For once, she had to agree with the Master.
"In that case, I do hope you will behave yourself after I leave," the Doctor said pointedly.
The Master smiled. "Doctor, you have my word on it." He assumed a sincere expression.
The Doctor did not look completely convinced. "I suppose that will have to do," he replied dubiously. Turning towards the Yyrikkites, he said, "Well, I'd best be off." He smiled. "If I could please have my Temporal Regulator - the Relic of Metal?"
Morvva said, "Of course, Doctor!" He lifted it carefully from the reliquary and handed it respectfully to the Doctor. Much to the astonishment and dismay of the Councillors, the Doctor promptly stuffed it carelessly into his coat pocket. "Well, good-by then." The Doctor and Peri were surrounded by the three Councillors taking their leave.
When everyone had shaken hands, the time travellers got into the TARDIS. The door closed, then opened again. The Doctor poked his curly head out. "Remember Master: your word." The Master nodded. "My word." The head disappeared, the doors closed, and in a few moments, the time machine dematerialized.
"I, too, must go now," announced the Master. When no one reacted, he continued, "You don't need to show me the way. I can see myself out." No one stirred. The Master left the Council Chamber with as much dignity as he could muster.