Chapter 8
The Master looked at the screen showing the signal that they had just received. He knew it looked familiar; he had a strong suspicion that it was the Doctor. He could feel him somewhere but couldn't pinpoint exactly where. It didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was here and that meant the TARDIS was here.
A plan grew in his head. Time for the truth to come out.
He grabbed a black transporter device and turned. He heard the gentle hum of the Daleks movement. He smiled.
"What are you doing?" it asked.
"I'm going on a little trip so while I'm gone look after our prisoner and keep with the program." Replied the Master.
"What about our plans?" it asked.
"Don't worry, I wont be too long, just watch the prisoner!" said the Master.
He walked out of the lab, leaving the Dalek in his wake. It motioned to one of the Vitian guards.
"Follow him and tell me where he goes!" the Dalek commanded.
"Yes, sir!" the soldier replied and he rushed out of the door, in pursuit.
The Master switched on the dampers which suppressed his bio-sign including his telepathic signal that masked him from everything, making him-self invisible. Even in close range, no one including the Doctor could tell who he really was. The last time he did that was by using the Archangel network to take over Earth, capture the Doctor and make war on the universe in retaliation for the death of Gallifrey. Of course, the Doctor had stopped him with help but not this time.
He walked through the various corridors and stood in lifts that took him to the ground floor. He walked with purpose, nodding to people, who called to him, through the entrance and out into the quiet square.
The soldier crept quietly from the lift and through the lobby towards the entrance of the hospital. He saw Mr Saxon stop in the middle of the plaza. He couldn't see why; deep down he couldn't care less, all he was worried about was in keeping Mr Saxon in view so he knew when to move if needed. In the meantime, he would try and keep out of sight best he could.
Meanwhile, Mr Saxon stood in the plaza and took out a portable scanner from his pocket, holding it out as it tried to lock onto the TARDIS's signal. After a few seconds, it bleeped as it locked on. It led through a nearby alley to the right of the square. It also brought up another signal, which surprised him. It indicated that there was a life sign in close vicinity to his position. He knew it wasn't the Doctor. So, he thought, the Dalek didn't trust him after all. Well, it wasn't a surprise to him, it just proven how treacherous Daleks could be and how treacherous this Dalek could be, even if it was on its own. He looked about checking that no one else was tailing him and spotted the guard trying to keep himself hidden. The Master acted as though he hadn't seen anything and proceeded towards the alley and disappeared.
The soldier kept looking at Mr Saxon, watching him for any sign of movement. He had brought out what looked like a scanner. The soldier reached for his communicator.
"My Lord, Mr Saxon has left the hospital and is currently in the plaza. It looks to me like he is trying to find something, but I don't know what."
"What is he doing now?" replied the metallic voice.
The soldier looked around, just in time to see the Master disappear down the alley on the right side of the plaza.
"He's just disappeared down an alleyway," replied the soldier as he hurried out of the hospital in pursuit of Mr Saxon, "I'm in pursuit!" he cried.
"Good, follow him and report back when you find him." Replied the metallic voice.
"Yes, sir!" replied the soldier as he rounded the corner, into the alleyway.
After what felt like an eternity, the Master finally rounded the last corner and the blue box of the TARDIS came into view. A smile grew across his face as he walked towards it.
He suddenly heard the hurried footsteps of the soldier who had been following him and then silence as his pursuer stopped behind the corner.
"You can come out. I know your there," said the Master, loudly. He heard silence in return.
"Oh, come on. Come out, NOW!" The Master turned as the soldier walked out from behind the corner. He had his gun aimed towards the Master as he moved.
"There now, that wasn't so difficult was it?" said the Master, "Why are you following me?"
"What is that?" asked the soldier, motioning towards the TARDIS behind the Master, with his gun.
"Nothing. Tell me why you are following me?" demanded the Master, waving away his question.
"I was ordered to," replied the soldier.
"By who? My Dalek friend perhaps?" asked the Master.
"Yes."
"And I suppose, you were ordered to relay any information on where I was going?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why?" asked the Master.
"I don't know," replied the soldier.
"Don't you lie to me! Tell me why?" demanded the Master, moving slowly towards the soldier.
"I don't know, I swear!" pleaded the soldier.
"What's your name?" asked the Master.
"Treg, sir."
"Well, Treg, tell me what brought you here?"
"I told you. I was ordered to. And anyway who are you?" said Treg.
"My name is Mr Saxon but that isn't my real name," chuckled the Master, "would you like to know what my real name is?" as he slowly took out a small gun from his jacket pocket and held it behind him.
"Y-Y-Yes" stuttered Treg.
"Well," smiled the Master, "my real name is the Master and I'm not from here, as you may have noticed," he laughed, motioning to himself with his free hand.
"And I'm a Time Lord who is in control of your world, even though others may disagree with me," he continued, walking towards Treg. As he got closer he lowered his voice to a whisper.
"And, I'm sorry Treg but you are going to die." He smiled as he raised the gun towards the soldier.
"Wh-wh-what? No!" screamed Treg as the Master pulled the trigger. The beam screamed into Treg and the force of it lifted him into the air. He slammed into the far wall, slumping across the floor. Smoke rose from where the beam hit him.
"Pity." Said the Master quietly.
He turned away from the remains of the soldier and walked towards the doors of the TARDIS. A smile grew across his face as he walked towards it. As he got close to the door, he held out his hand and touched the cool wood.
"We meet again," he whispered.
To his surprise, the door unlocked although it didn't open. He looked over his shoulder again, checking he wasn't being followed by anyone else, especially the Doctor. Satisfied, he opened the door and walked inside closing the door behind him.
He looked around the enormous control room. He couldn't believe he was here again; couldn't believe he had outsmarted the Doctor, again. He laughed as he rushed to the central control like a child to a biscuit jar. He set the controls so he could go back and see what really happened to his beloved Gallifrey; to see if the Doctor was actually telling the truth. He knew that he shouldn't but he didn't care for rules and he needed to know and anyway, he thought, who was here to stop him. As soon as he started to set the co-ordinates, he felt the TARDIS try to fight him but as he let the break go, the time ship dematerialised and went into flight and he knew he had won.
After a few minutes of flight, the TARDIS lurched and shook as sparks flew from the console. He tried to hold on for dear life. It felt as if the ship was going through an enormous barrier. It squealed like it was in pain, lights flickering on and off. Finally, it stopped with a deathly shudder, which sent more sparks flying everywhere and sent the Master crashing to the floor.
He gingerly got to his feet and went back to the control panel. The TARDIS was OK; OK enough for a trip back. It had also taken him to where he wanted to go. He heard fighting outside, so he checked that the shields were up and strong. He also inserted a chip, which was some kind of cloaking device that someone had kindly lent him and he instantly heard the device work. He did a last check on the shields and the cloak and happy that everything was fine, he slowly went towards the doors to look on the scene outside.
The Doctor was running down the corridor towards the lift, closely followed by Donna. He had replaced the black transporter device into his coat pocket and took out his sonic screwdriver. He stopped in front of the lift and began to scan the surrounding area.
"What are you doing?" panted Donna.
"I'm checking for an alien signal I picked up earlier. I now know it's not Dalek." he replied.
"Ah, HA!" he cried, "found it!" as he moved the device in his hand towards the floor, "It's down below us."
"Come on!" cried the Doctor as he tapped the 'call' button on the wall and the lift doors opened. He rushed inside. He kept the device in his hand towards the floor.
"It's definitely in some kind of basement and oh look, there's a basement level with two added lower levels," he mused and pushed the button for the basement with his free hand and the lift started to move.
Suddenly, he felt a wave of pain course through him, like someone was plunging a knife into his head. The feeling moved to his stomach. He fell to his knees, crying out in pain, screaming out in pain.
"Doctor!" cried Donna as she pushed the stop button and rushed to the Doctor's side. The Doctor writhed in agony almost doubling in pain. He could feel and hear something screaming in his head and he instantly knew it was the TARDIS. Something was happening to the TARDIS and he had to stop it.
"Doctor, what's happening?" cried Donna.
"It's… the… TARDIS," cried the Doctor, in between breaths, "there's… something wrong with her. I… have… to …go … back!"
Suddenly, another wave of pain swept through him, which sent him to the floor, writhing in agony. But, as quick as it came, the pain subsided and cleared away leaving the Doctor panting on the floor in a crumpled heap.
"Doctor? Are you alright?" whispered Donna.
He didn't answer right away, but then in a laboured whisper he said,
"Help me up, Donna. I need to check on the TARDIS."
"Ok, steady," said Donna, grabbing hold of the Doctor and helping him to his feet. He leant towards the side of the lift, still breathing heavily. Donna hit the button for the ground floor as it indicated the exit from the hospital and felt the lift move again. She heard a soft metallic sound like something rolling and hitting the wall. She looked down and saw the Doctor's screwdriver on the floor as a result of it falling out of the Doctor's hand as he fell.
The bell for the ground floor sounded and the Doctor rushed at full pelt out of the doors and through the entrance, apparently regaining the strength he had temporarily lost in the lift.
Donna held onto the Doctor's device as she followed him out of the hospital. He ran down the alleyway, his coat billowing out behind him. He turned around corner after corner, secretly hoping that the TARDIS was still where he had left it, parked in the alleyway.
He rounded the corner and slid to a halt, expecting to see the TARDIS sitting there waiting but all there was, was an empty space.
The TARDIS had gone.