Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who.
The Year of the Master's Reign now continues about eight months in. The world is in ruins and
The Master Chronicles 20 - US Tour
Oahu, Hawaii…8 Months Later…
The peace and relative tranquillity of the island at Kaena Point on its westernmost point was broken by the sudden arrival of two figures who staggered as they were hit by after effects of teleporting.
"Oh, my head, is that thing always so rough?" John said as he held his aching head. Martha was hardly any better but managed to say.
"Yeah, pretty much." Martha said who was feeling just as bad as him, especially given what they had both just witnessed and escaped.
The Islands of Japan had been their last stop before the Pacific Ocean, they had been all across continental Europe, African, the Middle East and Asia. They had arrived only to be trapped and nearly killed as the Master had razed all of the islands of Japan, they preferred to not think of the millions of people that had just been slaughtered by the Toclafane on the orders of the Master. It honestly was more horrifying than anything they had been forced to witness so far.
And that said a lot given all the Master was doing.
He had reduced the entire population of Earth into slave labour, everyone was being forced to work to construct his fleet of rockets. The size of Shipyard Number One in Russia had staggered them with over a hundred thousand rockets being built. They had seen the Fusion Mills of China and been held inside concentration style camps.
"At least its somewhere pleasant this time." John said as he looked around at the admittedly beautiful setting. Martha feeling more herself now her head wasn't feeling like it was going to pound its way out of her skull looked around and saw it for herself and found a little smile.
"It's beautiful." Martha said with a sad look in her eye despite the smile. She would have loved to take a holiday here; it was a lovely place but they had no time for that. They still had to get the Doctor's word to everyone and now only had four months left to do it. They had to get to the Americas next and then spread the message before getting back to the UK.
She honestly felt exhausted, all the constant travel and the weight that she was carrying on her shoulders. Honestly if John was here to always find them food, water and shelter not to mention transport she honestly thought she would have not made it this far. He was constantly on watch and had often given her the only blanket or more food to make sure she kept her strength up. She had told him time and time again not to do that but he would just tell her that he had prepared for something like this his whole life and had strength to spare.
"Best get moving though, in case the Toclafane detected us." John said with a tired smile before she nodded and followed him, Martha taking some comfort at the warmth of the island as they wouldn't be cold at least.
The Mexico/USA Border, North America…Two Months Later…
The dark night was a great cover for Martha and John as they waited for their pick up, after two months of trekking around South and Central America they were ready for something different. John's friends in South and Central America had been very helpful in getting them around, Martha had even managed to improve her Spanish! She thought proudly but now they were finally getting into the USA.
A rumbling of an engine made them both look carefully past the rock they were hiding behind and saw a pickup truck coming towards them. Keeping quiet in case it was an informer or a spy as they had found several times during their journey, some were desperate to sell them out to please the Master and earn his favour, both Martha and John honestly wished these people knew just how much of a curse that would be. The Master was as likely to kill you as reward you, if you were lucky then it would be a swift and relatively painless death.
The Resistance, although it wasn't able to do much was spreading the stories about the Doctor as much as they could which saved Martha and John considerable travelling. Still, they also helped with travel and finding supplies sometimes.
The pick-up truck finally stopped and a man emerged, he was tall Martha noticed with a slight flush to her cheeks and strong with short hair and chiselled jar line. She slowly got out from behind the rock followed by John who kept his hand close to his gun in case it was needed.
He held up a lamp until he saw Martha and John which was the signal that everything was all clear. They ran over and he greeted them with a grim look on his face.
"Martha Jones? John Conner?" He asked them and Martha nodded.
"That's us. You?" She asked knowing to be careful as they had been betrayed in the past and knew it could happen again.
"Paul Ballard. Come on, it'll be dawn soon." He warned them and they all climbed into his truck. John keeping watch as normal while Martha asked.
"Where are we going?"
Ballard didn't seem that communicative but did give her a single and concise answer.
"Safehouse."
Martha wondered if she should ask more but the man was so guarded that he might as well have razor blades sticking out of his body at all angles for all the openness he showed. He seemed the type that preferred action to speak for him. She knew she would be wasting her breath and instead turned to John who gave her a reassuring smile which she returned.
- x -
Resistance Safehouse, Los Angeles…That Morning…
The ruins of Los Angeles where a difficult sight as many buildings had been devastated by the Toclafane during the invasion. Some were being used as huge barracks for the slave workers as they went to work in the shipyards nearby but Ballard managed to get them into the city just before dawn broke and he pulled both Martha and John down an old access route for the subway system but they split off and into a warren of old tunnels before finally they reached a pit that they had to abseil down.
Ballard went first and John followed, both men knowing how to do this easily but Martha was a little more hesitant as she looked at the rope, not as sure but John called up to her.
"It's alright, just take a firm hold and slide. You will be fine." He reassured her and she carefully took hold of the rope after rallying her courage and began to lower herself down it, getting low enough that John was able to catch her and help her to her feet. "Good job." John told her and she nodded, her heart still racing a little.
"Come on!" Ballard said sharply and the pair frowned before following him, still not sure they weren't heading into a trap.
However instead they came into a rather surprising place, the Resistance such as it was operated a number of rustic camps that she and John had visited over the course of their journey around the world but this place was something else.
It was clearly underground but had a large open space with several open officers and an infirmary that was fully stocked which Martha knew was an achievement in itself, light wood and glass panelling not to mention carpet. Martha and John honestly were surprised at a base that was so put together but glad as it hopefully would mean they could at least sleep safely for one night. Three figures came over to them after a quick word with Ballard, moving down some stairs that led to an upper floor.
"The famous Martha Jones. Or is it infamous? I can never tell." A woman said with a cool and upper-class British accent said, looking rather well put together and clean not to mention fairly well fed which annoyed Martha more than anything when there were so many people literally starving to death out there.
"Can it Ms Dewitt. I'm Jonas Bledsoe and I guess you can say I dot the I and Ts around here." Jonas said as he held out his hand to Martha and John who both took it gingerly. "This Ruth Truewell and Adelle Dewitt."
"Nice place." John said with a look around, suspicious as honestly didn't feel a place this well built and designed wouldn't be known.
"Used to be our base even before the Master took power. We used to be a government agency…sort of." Jonas said and they didn't like the sound of that as it sounded very sketchy to them and that only made Martha and John more wary as if this had been a government agency then chances were this was on some database somewhere just waiting for the Master's servants to find it. "Becca, show them where they can bed down." Jonas called out and a teenage girl came out, she had dark brown hair and otherwise was cute but her age didn't exactly endear Jonas to Martha and John, both immediately thinking she was far too young to be employed at an agency like this.
"Hey, got some bunks this way." Becca told them with a smile, both followed her not sure about this place but the sound of being able to sleep properly for the first time in quite a while was very tempting.
Becca led them to a round room with what looked like bunks built into the floor, they had a mattress inside and was warm which was a vast improvement over what they had been forced to sleep with in the past. Becca smiled as she explained. "This place used to be something called the Dollhouse, it's a long story but we took over and since its underground the Toclafane haven't found it yet." Becca told them in hope of reassuring them they supposed and reluctantly they both took off their backpacks and jackets not to mention their boots and climbed into neighbouring pods. The comfort of the bed was almost heavenly after so long of sleeping rough and the two fell asleep quickly.
- x -
Hours later when they awoke, they honestly felt very refreshed and stretched as they sat up in the pods, still wondering just what had possessed people to build things like this however comfortable it was.
Martha and John both got out of their pods and put their boots back on just as Becca came in with a tray of food.
"Rations, we had a stockpile when we came down here but it's pretty depleted now so…eat up." Becca said and Martha thought that they should probably give this to someone who needed it more felt her stomach growl and while John smirked at her expense, so Martha stayed quiet as she rather embarrassed ate her rations. Becca too was smiling and told her.
"My sister used to do that, always pretend she wasn't hungry and her stomach would growl like it was on cue. She was the one that used to cook and when money was really tight, she would always insist I eat first and not eat herself." Becca said with a faraway look in her eyes, as if lost in a memory. Both Martha and John looked at her with sadness as the way she had said it seemed to indicate that her sister wasn't around anymore and was likely another victim of the Master.
"She sounds nice. What's her name?" Martha asked trying to strike up a conversation while John got dressed and went to check with their hosts the way things were in Los Angeles, which left Martha alone with the young girl.
"Jaime. Jaime Sommers." Becca said with a smile that looked strained somehow. "The Master took her, she's up on the Valiant as far as we know. I don't even know if she's alive or dead." Becca said with a look of sadness and depression crossing her face and Martha immediately the moment tears appeared on her face grabbed the girl in a hug and let her cry into her shoulder. Becca didn't resist, maybe this had been building inside her for too long so Martha simply allowed her to let it all out.
When Becca had finally run out of tears, Martha let her go but stared her right in the eye and managed to put a smile on her face.
"I have a sister up there too, and my mum and dad." Martha admitted, her fear and worry for what they must be going through or even if they were still alive haunted her every day. But it also reminded her to keep going whenever things got too hard, she wasn't doing this for her Martha thought with determination giving her strength to continue. She was doing it for them, for them and everyone else so no matter how freezing, exhausted, soaked or hungry she was, she would keep going because she had too.
It was literally their only hope Martha thought with worry, their only hope of ever being free from the Master.
Becca seemed to understand she did know what she was talking about and how she felt and managed a smile for her which Martha nodded in acceptance and was glad that she had managed to get her to cheer up.
John unfortunately came in and interrupted the moment and told her as the pair somewhat reluctantly separated.
"We have most of the people near enough that we can visit them in one night. They managed to spare some new gear for us." John said and Martha nodded, knowing it was time to get started before moving on.
"It's daylight out there right now, you can't go right now. I'll escort you; I know all the best routes." Becca told them with brightly and John frowned as it meant a delay which they didn't need right now as the longer they stayed in one place, the more likely it was that the Master would track them down. Martha too was unsettled but as it was day the people would be away working and not get back till late evening at the earliest, she was also not thrilled at Becca risking her life like that, the protective big sister in her coming out given what the girl had told her.
So, it looked like they were stuck here for a while Martha thought and decided to see if they could plan a route through America that would be better than just wandering vaguely.
- x -
Becca was feeling a little better after Martha had comforted her as best that she could, she was a lot like Jaime…used to be Becca thought sadly as she remembered that night which seemed like a lifetime ago now…when the Master had taken Jaime away from her.
Even now after almost two years she just felt so angry, Becca thought her face twisting with rage as she thought of old bastard that apparently had become a young bastard. Who still had Jaime enslaved and doing awful things for him. Who now oppressed the entire world and ruined and ended so many lives every day.
He had to be stopped she thought with determination to help do that somehow, but also, they had to break his hold over Jaime…bring her back Becca thought desperately wanting her big sister back.
She went to see Will who had been the only one suffering as much as her with Jaime's abduction, he had blamed himself for it all as his invention had been used to enslave and corrupt Jaime but also that he had used them on her at all. Seeing him in his work shop was almost heart-breaking as he literally worked every hour of the day to find some way of undoing what had been done using his antrocytes.
He barely looked up when she entered but finally when he did after she put a bit of food down for him, he smiled and told her with the first hopeful look she had ever seen in his eyes.
"I've got it." Will told her with excitement, almost giddy and Becca honestly thought he had lost it for a moment before he held up a rod like device only the size of a soda can.
"What is it?" She asked him, worried he might have finally cracked but he told her excitedly.
As she listened, she felt hope rising up inside her as she knew at last that they had a way to stop her sister and maybe stop the Master as well.
- x -
Two Days Later…
Martha had been now to all the people she was able to get too and spread the stories of the Doctor as best as she could. The people knew what was needed now as did the rebels who had agreed to spread the stories to all the places that they didn't have time to visit. Martha and John both were somewhat disappointed to leave the comfortable base behind but at the same time they were eager to get away. They had been in one place for far too long and they still had much to do before the Master could be brought down.
They were packing their backpacks with some supplies and equipment that the rebels here had managed to spare for them when they saw Becca come in wearing an outfit not that different to their own. Black jacket with black cargo pants and practical boots on, she even had a backpack of her own and her hair tied back in a practical ponytail. Martha and John were both confused and John told her.
"Becca, we can make the rest of the way on our own, we don't need a guide." He said not wanting to put her in any danger. But Becca told them in no uncertain terms.
"I'm going with you." Becca said firmly and Martha and John both froze for a moment as the comment caught them completely by surprise.
"Becca, there is no way." Martha said quickly, knowing full well how hard their existence on the road was and all they suffered through. She had no intention of putting Becca through that she thought with complete certainty.
"I am going! My sister is on the Valiant and the only way we are going to get her back is to defeat the Master. I am going to do whatever it takes to make that happen." Becca said with fierceness and determination, not going to accept being turned down.
"Becca…what we are doing is dangerous. No one should have to endure what we do, certainly no one as young as you." John told her with a worried voice as he was concerned that she would follow them if they turned her down.
"I've seen what it's like out there. I'm not a little girl, I am going." Becca said not moved at all by their words.
Martha and John meanwhile were trying to think how they were going to convince Becca she was better off staying here when a sudden explosion silenced them all. They all stopped with a great sense of dread as it was clearly an explosion and not anything else. Followed by the sounds of screams and laser blasts which clued them in on what was happening.
"There's an escape tunnel down by the service area." Becca said with terror on her face as she considered just what a bad position that they were in right now. She knew those here were going to be killed unless they escaped and time was of the essential.
"Let's go." John told them both, standing right by Becca and holding her close so she would be protected by his perception filter and Martha despite wanting to try and save people knew there was nothing they could do. If they died here with them or were captured then it was all for nothing!
With Becca leading them as John held her close so the Toclafane wouldn't notice her they walked quickly for the exit. They saw the people being shot left and right by the attacking Toclafane but despite their tears could do nothing about it, they just kept on moving.
Reaching the escape tunnel, they broke into a run with no Toclafane around and kept on running till they reached the city's subway tunnel. Thankfully it was no longer in use and they were able to run its length till eventually they emerged on the far side of town in the train yard.
With no one around they stopped and then the full weight of what had just happened hit them.
"Oh god!" Becca said with a horrified look on her face as Will, Topher and all the others had just been slaughtered by the Toclafane. They had been her friends, her constant and support system and now they were all likely dead.
"We've got to keep moving in case they find the tunnel." John said, panting with the effort of the intense run.
"I know." Martha said, the guilt of getting those people killed stabbing her deeply in the heart. But for the sake of everyone else she had to put those feelings aside she remembered and more to the point she had to find somewhere safe for Becca she realised as her protective instinct kicked in. She had just lost the only people she knew and her sister was either dead or a prisoner. Thinking of her own sister and who knows what Tish was suffering through right now, she couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for Becca.
She reluctantly took the third perception filter out of her backpack and while John looked on with a questioning look, she handed it to Becca. The girl looked at the key with confusion until Martha explained.
"It's a perception filter. It makes you not invisible, just unnoticeable. Stay quiet and still while people are around and you will not attract attention and that includes the Toclafane. Until we can find a safe place for you, you will need this." Martha told her sternly.
Again, Becca was stunned slightly by the way Martha spoke to her, just like Jaime had when she had been trying to talk to her about something serious and trying to make her behave. It made her smile despite the moment and she nodded and told her.
"I understand, I'll be careful." Becca said, completely earnest as she had never been with Jaime, now appreciating that they only meant what was best for her.
Martha nodded and sighed a little, not wanting to have to drag Becca along with them but until they could find a safe place, they had no option but to bring her with them.
John was not impressed either but accepted her judgement and together the three of them headed off east into the heart of North America.
Two Weeks Later…
Now over two weeks into their walk across America the trio were making camp in some disused service station along the road they were using to help find their way. They had set up a fire outside on the other side of the building to cook some food they'd managed to find and warm themselves before they went inside to sleep. It was rough but at least for once they had a roof over their heads and shelter from the weather.
"There we go." John said as he dished out the canned soup and vegetables they'd managed to find, it was still hot from the fire and gently drank and ate it to let it cool a little which also enjoying the sensation of having warm food for once.
"Who taught you to cook?" Becca asked as she gently ate her meal. John smiled at their new travelling companion before telling them.
"My dad. He taught me all about survival, used to take me in the woods and show me all the ways to build a shelter, to find food, to hunt you name it." John told them with a small smile as he remembered those times when he was young. "Taught me chess, marksmanship, even to improvise explosives. He had some pretty tall tales about vicious robots from the future that would come for us one day. Used to drive mom mad." John said sadly as he remembered his parents.
"Do you want to go look for them?" Martha asked him, wondering if he needed to go look for his family but John explained sadly.
"They died, a month before the Master took power, car accident." John told them. "At least they got to see me marry Kate and our little girl be born before it happened." John said with some comfort in that.
"You're married?" Martha asked him, surprised as he had never told her that or that he had a child. John smiled at managing to keep that to himself.
"Yes, Kate. Apart from my mother the toughest woman I have ever met, she and our daughter will be fine. She knows how to take care of herself." John said with complete certainty. He dared not try to find them in case the Master ever learned of their existence and used them against him and Martha but Kate was smart and tough, she would make sure she and the baby would be alright John thought with confidence in his wife.
"I met William Shakespeare, when I was travelling with the Doctor." Martha said, deciding to tell them some of their own experiences. Becca's eyes widened at the mention of the legendary playwright while John who had already heard this story before smiled at her reaction. "He lost his son and yet he found solace in his writing, even when the Carrionites tried to use him he still helped us defeat them, even tried kiss me." Martha said with a smile as she remembered the flirty playwright. God, she missed those days now Martha thought with sadness, honestly those days seemed like heaven now even if the Doctor had been constantly going on and on about 'Rose' she thought with an old jealousy and anger coming back before she pushed it aside. Too much was at stake for her to get angry she thought with the feelings now turning at herself for being distracted by her stupid crush on a man who honestly was obsessed with a girl who he had put on an impossible pedestal.
"I never appreciated my sister." Becca admitted, deciding to tell her and Jaime's story, a least partly. When the other two looked to her she continued.
"Our parents, they were protestors. Didn't matter what it was they would travel and campaign for it. Used to leave Jaime with friends at home and then both of us when I came along, sometimes for weeks at a time. They used to bring back pictures of their travels and Jaime got into photography because of it. She was a great student, really smart and popular and did every extracurricular going. Everyone liked her! But she even worked to put a little money into the house when our parents were away." Becca said as she remembered her early life back home in Iowa, smiling as it seemed idyllic compared to her life since before her face fell as she moved on to the next point. "But then mom got sick."
"With what?" Martha asked her, the doctor in her already diagnosing.
"Cancer, our dad just took off." Becca said with bitterness as she now saw those days far more clearly than she once had. "He didn't want to have to care for our mom, his wife when he could be campaigning and getting drunk. No, he left care of our mom and me…to Jaime."
"She was about to go to Harvard, but she gave it all up to work all the hours she could and stay home to care for us both. She worked all the hours possible to feed us while caring for mom and me, cooking, cleaning, nursing. She did it all." Becca said now amazed at how much her sister had done to support them back then.
"And no one helped you?" John asked with suppressed anger at the lout of a father that Becca and her sister had been cursed with.
"Some friends did but we didn't have much in the way of family. Three years it went like that until our mom died." Becca said remembering that awful time all too well and missing her sister even more. "Only then did our dad return and took me with him, Jaime meanwhile went to the west coast and tried to continue her education while working as a bartender. Was doing well too, even managed to get a boyfriend and a decent apartment, until our dad decided he didn't want to deal with me anymore and then dumped me on her." Becca said with disgust that she had ever thought well of that man, he was a good for nothing drunk and she would gladly never see him again if given the chance.
"So, she gave up college and did more shifts as a bartender to take care of both of us. She became almost like my mom rather than my big sister. She was the one that reminded me to go to bed, to study, to eat…all that stuff. I was the brattiest kid you can imagine and I threw everything she did for me back in her face. I made her life hell." Becca said with great regret, she had never realised just how much Jaime had done for her until she was gone.
"You were child who was suffering!" Martha said with a great compassion as she now knew much more about Becca and all she had gone through. Gradually losing all the people she loved and all her security, seeing she was also feeling guilty at how she had been so awkward to deal with back then, so Martha tried to comfort her. "She knew that! She'd been there herself and she loved you. No matter what."
"That was the last thing she said to me." Becca said with tears in her eyes. "Just as the Master took her away, she told me that she loved me. Despite everything…she loved me." Becca said, her heart feeling heavy as she remembered just what had happened but didn't tell them that. They wouldn't understand Becca thought, not given everything Jaime had been forced to do under the Master's control, what she had become. But they had a way to save her now, Becca thought and with grim determination she swore whatever it took, she was going to get onto the Valiant and get her back!
"You remind me of her." Becca admitted to a slightly stunned Martha. "Strong like her, compassionate like her. Smart like her."
Martha honestly didn't know what to say, she was shaken to hear all that Becca thought of her especially when compared to the super sister she had apparently been given, the weight of that was too much to think about. She had a sister too and although Tish was technically the oldest sister Martha assumed that role almost without thinking, Martha had always been the big sister to Leo as well. She wondered just whether Jaime was still alive and wondered briefly why the Master would have taken her away.
John was silent as he was struggling to control his own anger at the neglectful father Becca and her sister had been saddled with, they had deserved better but the world he knew with sadness rarely worked that way.
"We'd better get some sleep." John decided to say, knowing they would need their strength tomorrow. Both Martha and Becca agreed and they snuffed out the fire and went inside to sleep.
Valiant, Over the Atlantic Ocean…Same Time…
Jaime Sommers or as she was now known Teresa Saxon stood on the flight deck of the Valiant as Devanna, Quebec and Tango operated the controls. All wore fairly unremarkable suits and looked fairly bored as the mind-numbing routine got to them.
"And at 0100 hours, nothing is happening." Quebec said with a bored frown while Devanna leant back in her chair and pulled out a book to read. Teresa told her sharply.
"You open that book and I will personally force you to eat it, whole." Teresa threatened and Devanna wisely threw the book away. Teresa glared at her briefly before going over to the computer console and retrieving the reports from their sector chiefs. She read it and was pleased that most of their projects were going well but notes of Martha Jones and her spreading hope was worrying. That could lead to an uprising Teresa thought with concern, she was fairly certain that the Toclafane could handle it but it was still troubling.
She turned to look down at the area below and saw the Doctor was in his little tent, she sneered a bit as the high and mighty Doctor had been brought down to this, little more than a pet to the Master.
But she didn't interact with him, instead she left the actives on duty to run the ship while she took the reports to the Master. She saw Lucy was still up which surprised her a little and she had a fairly impressive black eye on her face, the Master having been displeased at her clinginess. Teresa had warned her about this she thought to herself and saw the broken look in her eyes. She had noticed the expression on her face whenever the Master couldn't see, the disgust and revulsion whenever he touched her.
That was a problem as Lucy was one of the few who might get close enough to kill him.
Something she intended to bring up with the Master tonight.
She wandered through the corridors which was quiet and mostly empty at this time of night, the slave workers including the Joneses were safely locked up in their bunks and so she walked through the corridors without the usual glares being sent her way.
Teresa found the Master in the torture chamber, formerly a gym it had been converted into a makeshift torture room for him with all manner of devices around the room including chemicals like acid and a medieval rack. A room the Master liked to spend time with in hopes of blowing off a little steam.
On a table was Dexter, previous the one who had been manipulating Francine Jones to spy on the Doctor and one of their former Section Chiefs who had failed to capture Martha Jones and whose failure to stamp out rebellion had allowed it to flourish in America. Her screams were loud and grating on the ears especially to someone like Teresa who had far better hearing than most people but she pushed past it and went to report.
"Progress on construction of the fleet sir." Teresa said coldly, handing him the pad with the details. "All ships will be complete on time and a major centre of the rebels was destroyed in Los Angeles. The old Dollhouse." She told him reminding him of the place that they had taken the Actives from or some of them at least.
"Oh, the good old days." The Master said with a wide smirk as Dexter whimpered, still alive but only just. He took the pad and read all the details at unbelievable speed. "Excellent, now is there something else?" He asked her with a bored and eager expression, really wanting to try out some new toys on Dexter.
"The work on the 'Skasis Paradigm' has stalled, the oil substitute is nowhere near as effective and very toxic." Teresa said with no real concern of the damage it was doing to those taking it.
"Shame but we have time." The Master said and then Teresa had something far more concerning to report.
"There are whispers about Martha Jones, that she has a way to kill you. A lot of people down there are believing." Teresa warned him but the Master waved her off.
"That is just wishful thinking." He boasted with a smirk but Teresa saw the paranoia that was growing in his eyes. He was concerned about Martha Jones and what she might have up her sleeve Teresa realised to her own surprise.
"There is also concern about Lucy, she's not loyal anymore. I know she features in some of your failsafe protocols but I am worried she will turn against you." Teresa told him but again he waved her concerns off but with much more confidence this time.
"I can handle that; she is too weak to ever act against me." He told her with a smile and Teresa nodded with a slight bow and replied.
"As you wish sir. Good night and do remember to get some rest. Too much of anything can be bad for you, even fun." Teresa said with a grin, the Master laughed in amusement and told her.
"You are a mother hen. I will get some sleep when I am finished. Now go." He told her and she did as he commanded. The Master smirked as he turned back to Dexter and told the woman who was shaking with terror.
"Now, I was in Ancient Greece once and was privileged to be present at the demonstration of a very nasty device called 'The Brazen Bull' perhaps you would like to hear about it before I show you first-hand what it did? Yes, excellent." The Master said with a vicious smile which only made Dexter scream out in terror.
- x -
In General Kudlak's cell the Uvodni soldier was now almost catatonic after so long of being tortured with the results of his actions and all the misery that he had caused. He would have gone insane long ago if he had not sworn a vow to himself. That if he ever got out of this cell and the Master was overthrown, something he would gladly help with if given the chance he thought with hatred of the mad tyrant that now occupied Earth. He would go out into space and find those children that he had sent out into the universe, at least that still lived he thought with dismay at all the misery and suffering they would likely have gone through.
He would find them and bring them home, Kudlak swore to himself and then surrender himself to Earth's authorities and let them decide his fate, it was only right he thought given all that he had done to the human race that they judged for him for his crimes against them.
- x -
In the cages that kept all the slave workers of the ship prisoner, the Joneses sat on their uncomfortable bunks in the hot and stuffy machinery areas of the ship where the constant rumbling kept them awake and tired, Francine and Clive held each other while Tish tried to sleep but they could see her tossing and turning, nightmares over all the Master had forced them to see and endure. Like when he had burned the Islands of Japan and forced them all to stand up on deck and watch. There hadn't been a single dry eye on the deck that day.
They were doing all they could to comfort each other and Tish but were terrified for Martha and for Leo who were both still out there on the run from the Master. He had nearly caught Martha so many times and yet she always managed to slip through his fingers. His rage had been terrible on those days but at the same time they had been so happy and proud.
Martha was surviving and keeping the hope alive.
- x -
In another area of the machinery section not far from the cells where the Jones Family was being held, another prisoner struggled to get free.
Captain Jack Harkness had been pulling so hard on the restraints and chains that he had broken his wrists several times, the pain had been excruciating but over the long months he had managed to weaken the clamps the chains were connected too. Not enough to get them to break away from the wall but it was getting close.
Tish was the one person he really had any interaction with and it was always under guard, when she came in to feed him cold mashed swede.
Gods whatever the Doctor had planned he just hoped it was soon, Jack thought with depression and hopelessness stabbing into him. He honestly didn't know just how much more of this he could take. The only thing that kept him sane was the thought of his team and getting back to them.
Ianto, Owen, Tosh and Gwen…Torchwood Three.
Jack had missed them so much and had no idea if they were even still alive but he had trained them well, he could only trust in that and work to free himself so when the chance came to remove the Master, he would be ready he swore to himself.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA…
After leaving Phoenix and spreading the story there, the trio travelled north until they reached the incredible Grand Canyon and trekked their way across it. The stunning landscape made them stop just to appreciate the incredible sights around them, they honestly wished they had a camera to take pictures as they hiked their way across the park.
The park was vast and awkward though to navigate and they had to scale a few cliffs and cross a few ravines to get across, this did slow them down, taking almost four days to manage the difficult terrain but as they came the edge of the park, they were met by another contact who had promised to take them the rest of the way.
A small minivan was sitting there, looking a little beat up but still in good condition. A woman in her forties stood there although she looked younger, her hair in brown and blonde curls. She smiled warmly as she looked at them but her eyes were different to many people the group had seen, highly intelligent and compassionate but also guarded.
Martha walked up to her with John and Becca just behind and all cautious as again trust was something you could ill afford to give out so readily these days.
"Martha Jones?" The woman said, her accent was unsurprisingly American. Martha nodded, ready to run at a moment's notice but the woman smiled with great calm and told them.
"Get in, I have a little retreat a short way off. I'm Sue by the way, Sue Snell." The woman introduced extending her hand to them.
The name honestly shocked the three of them as they all knew it, Martha and Becca most of all, Sue Snell was a famous author! She had written some of their favourite stories and many of them had been made into TV shows or movies not to mention been reprinted a few times due to their popularity.
"Sue Snell?!" Becca said with awe on her face as she and Martha both stared at their contact while John looked on with his usual suspicion, keeping them safe being his job as far as he felt. "The Sue Snell?"
"Well Snell is my maiden name. It should be Sue Bellaver since I got married." Sue said with an amused smile. "But I use it as my pen name so I guess I am used to calling myself that. Now, best get a move on, it will be dark soon and I would rather not be out driving at night with the Toclafane around." Sue told them before beckoning them inside. They all climbed in and Sue started driving them away while John kept on looking for signs of betrayal while Becca and Martha both settled in the back of the van. They then noticed a strange alien looking device that was humming, Sue told them without looking.
"A Liisu Camouflage Unit. You're not the only one with a few tricks up your sleeve." Sue said with a smile on her face. "Or so I have heard from your stories."
The trio were now very confused at how she could have alien technology and be so at ease with it. Staying quiet till they arrived at a small cottage an hour or so later they all got out and Sue brought them inside her home.
"It will be a bit hard for four of us but we can manage. How about some tea? I grow it in the garden out back along with some fruits and vegetables so I can at least feed you tonight." Sue told them as she took off her coat and hung it up.
Martha, Becca and John meanwhile were all looking around the little home, it was warm and cosy with lots of personal touches here and there. Many odd objects like a buddha and different styles of art around, lots of pictures on the walls and odd furniture that looked like it had been picked up in different places.
Sue brought them a cup of boiling tea in the time they were studying, gently giving it to them while staring at Martha for a moment before they all sat down in her small living room.
"Now then, I have to admit I was not expecting you to be so young with all you have apparently gone through but then again I am not one to talk either." Sue said as she sipped her tea. They all did and it was quite nice. Then Sue dropped a bombshell. "And we have something in common Martha Jones, we both travelled in time and space with a Timelord in a Tardis."
That made all of them look up stunned, Becca almost spat her tea out while John almost reached for his pistol but Martha just blinked and asked her almost excitedly.
"You travelled with the Doctor?" Martha asked her but Sue shook her head.
"No not with the Doctor but I have heard of him. I travelled with another Timelord named Caleera, or Carrie as I always knew her. I guess we should settle in as this will take a while." Sue told them and began her story. First telling them about the events in Chamberlain back in 1979 before then moving on to what had happened after.
"We went to hide with the Sisterhood of Karn, a sort of order of space nuns with psychic powers. They have an elixir that makes them immortal and despite being suspicious of us, they took us in." Sue said as she sipped her own tea, glad to be able to tell someone about this at last. "They helped Caleera learn to master her powers and even gave us the elixir, I may not look it but I am over a hundred and fifty years old." Sue told them proudly which stunned them all. Sue enjoyed the moment before carrying on.
"Years of taking the elixir gave me some psychic powers of my own, allowing me to study with the Sisterhood. I learned to focus my mind, to control my mental landscape and use my own limited psychic abilities. Me and Caleera, we talked a lot and got to know each other so when the Time War was over and it was safe…we decided to go see the Universe." Sue said with a smile as she remembered all the things that had followed.
"We travelled to so many worlds and other times! Oh, the things we saw! Honestly there aren't any words." Sue said, going a little misty eyed as she got lost in memories of her travels before suddenly getting serious. "Then one day, we found ourselves being chased by a 'force' of some kind that we didn't understand. Still don't know what it was but Caleera dropped me off back home the day after I left before going off to try and lead it away. I haven't seen her since." Sue said with worry in her face as she considered her old friend and what might have happened to her.
"But because of the elixir and humans are relatively simple biologically compared to other lifeforms, I had hardly aged a day since I left so I managed to insert myself back into my old life, as boring as it was. But I went to college and studied music and photography and decided to go out and see the world on my own." Sue said proudly as she had decided not to mourn for the life that she had lost but rather embrace what was ahead of her.
"I travelled around Asia and the Pacific, deciding to make my hobby into a career." Sue said proudly as she remembered the few years she had spent moving around Asia and the Pacific and all the things she'd learned and seen. "Met my first husband, a commercial pilot there but we divorced pretty soon after due him cheating on me. Encountered a few aliens out there too, some wanted help and others to invade or hurt us. Had to deal with that of course." She said with smile.
"Kept on doing that and when I returned, I went to New York and got a job as part of the Philharmonic there and kept on finding aliens. You would honestly be surprised just how many come here." Sue told them as they listened keenly. "Met my second husband James Bellaver, a business man who gave me two brilliant kids and while raising them I took up writing. I liked it so I kept going even after they grew up."
Sue put her cup down and then finished her short version of the story. "Then I started this place, a little meditation retreat where I could teach others some of the things I learned when travelling around the universe and the world. Any questions?" Sue asked deciding to be upfront with her history to build trust.
Martha and Becca who had always admired her knew there was a bit more than that, her books success aside Sue had been a successful player of the cello and the flute not to mention a renowned award-winning photographer and she was married to a man from one of the richest families in America, the Bellavers who had a lot of real estate and a financial empire. Not to mention her husband was a major art collector and her children Gillian and Wade were following in their parents' footsteps.
Now they were finally getting to meet her and she was even more awesome in person! She had been an adventurer in time and space! John meanwhile was still suspicious if impressed at all she had achieved. Sue having waited a while seemed to take their silence as they didn't have any questions and got up.
"Maybe you can help me get the food in? I have to cook and it will be quicker with all of us." She said with calmness, Martha and Becca jumping to help while John did so reluctantly, Sue seemed to notice and informed him.
"I understand your concerns but believe me, I am on your side. Now come on, I am sure we could all enjoy some food." Sue said and went to her garden to pick the ingredients for dinner. Martha and Becca both looked at him annoyed.
"John, it's okay. She's good." Becca said but he shook his head.
"Suspicion equals alive. I will keep my wits about me and my guard raised." He told them and they frowned at his attitude but not wanting to argue they ignored her and went to help Sue get dinner for tonight.
- x -
Later that night they tucked in to their dinner of vegetables and spices which they enjoyed it a lot before Becca went to sleep on the sofa while Martha and Sue stayed up to talk and John cleaned up. The two women had shared some stories of their travels and Sue patiently listened to Martha before speaking of something she had noticed in the stories about the relationship between Martha and the Doctor.
"Martha, I don't know what the Doctor is thinking by doing this to you." Sue said with anger at the man due to his arrogance which shocked Martha. "He is idealising this 'Rose' and constantly comparing you to her. It's not right. You are an amazing woman who can do so much more and deserve more. He will never love you as you love him because quite frankly, he has put this girl on a pedestal whether she deserves it or not. I think he honestly is glossing over her faults as she has become perfect in his eyes. You deserve to be loved for yourself, you are brilliant and never think otherwise." Sue said with an insistent look in her eyes, as if willing Martha to believe it.
Martha herself was torn as she realised Sue was right, the last of her own feelings for the Doctor breaking as she knew for her own sake that she had to purge herself of them. He would literally never even look at her like she hoped he would, Rose was his dream girl that could do no wrong and he would pine after her forever. Nothing would change that.
As depressing as she found that and that she had invested so much in a relationship that would never happen it was also she had to admit greatly liberating. She had accepted it now and honestly, she felt much better as she knew what she had to do when all of this was over.
"Good." Sue said, sensing with her own psychic powers that Martha had done what she needed to do and started setting herself free from her crush on the Doctor and added. "You can do anything you want too. Chase your dreams whatever they are. Your life is yours and yours alone, don't waste it." Sue told her with a smile.
Martha nodded and smiled glad to have met her as she knew what she was talking about but she did have one question.
"If another Time Lord survived the Time War though? Wouldn't the Doctor have sensed it?" Martha asked, knowing that this 'Caleera' had survived and never been felt by him just like the Master when he had awakened. Sue told her with some experience she had gained during her time with the Sisterhood of Karn.
"It is true Timelords can sense each other but only on their own planet." Sue said before explaining to Martha. "When on their home planet they are all part of a telepathy field of sorts but when separated for a long period of time and great distance the link gets weaker and the Doctor was apart from his own people for a long while so his link shrivelled and faded with time. He probably didn't notice it till he was actively trying to sense another Time Lord and couldn't so he jumps to the conclusion that they're all dead." Sue said with a sageness that made her seem far older although Martha knew she really was older than her, John and Becca combined. "He can still recognise a Timelord when he sees one but that is about it. Even that might go with time."
"So, there might be other Timelords out there?" Martha asked with surprise and Sue shrugged.
"I suppose but who knows what sort of people they might be." Sue said as she had seen for herself that the worst of a species was always usually the ones to survive.
The Master being a case in point she thought with disgust for all the pain and misery he caused.
The Valiant, Atlantic Ocean…
In his tent on the deck of the Valiant the Doctor was carefully meditating, all he could really do with his body so devastated by advanced aging. He had been working hard for months now to tune himself into the Archangel Network and align himself with its matrixes in preparation for Martha to complete the work he had set for her. He truly hoped she succeeded as he wasn't sure if his old friend wouldn't just kill him one day soon in a fit of madness.
But as he delved deeper into the network, he felt something surprising. Blinking in surprise it was almost as if there was a person at the centre of the network and they were caught in some kind of dream.
He pondered and wondered if he could reach them but the images that he could see were confusing, a city but it was a decaying metropolis that was so crime ridden it made Batman's Gotham look tame in comparison. It looked like an Earth City from the Twentieth Century but not completely so he had idea just what was happening.
He was broken from this by the sight of the Master who came swaggering his way onto the flight deck accompanied with four of his lackies in full combat gear who were wheeling in a stasis unit. He honestly had no idea just what the hell the Master had in mind now but he wouldn't have to wait long as the Master loved to hear the sound of his own voice and prove just how clever he was.
"Now then Doctor." The Master said with his over-the-top enthusiasm that the Doctor personally found annoying. "Now, we're going to play a little game. Three guesses who I have in the box, guess right and I let them out. Guess wrong and they stay in there." He said and the Doctor frowned before telling him as he didn't want to indulge in his games.
"I have only one thing to say to you, you know what it is." He said and the Master quickly cut him off.
"Oh no I don't think so. Guess she stays in there, but since I can tell you are all a quiver with anticipation. Let's see what prize you could have won." The Master said now acting like he was an over-the-top game show host.
The Doctor rolled his eyes in exasperation at his childish games but that stopped when the Master wiped away the frost on the front of the stasis unit and he saw just who was inside.
"Nyssa?" The Doctor said, not able to believe it as he had lost her to E-Space a long time ago, he had thought she would be trapped there forever. He wanted to get up and get a closer look but could hardly move. The Master took a great deal of pleasure in his shock before adding salt to the wound.
"Yes, Nyssa of Traken…frozen forever but that is nothing compared to what I have done to the rest of your little friends that I have on this ship…not counting Handsome Jack of course." The Master said, quickly adding the last part so the Doctor could tell he didn't mean him.
"Friends?" The Doctor croaked, not liking the sound of that all. Many of his former companions had settled on Earth and he would be damned if he let the Master hurt any of them but then the Master told him with a smug look in his eyes.
"Yes, the companions you adore so much." The Master said before turning to the girls in the combat armour and telling them. "Right girls, remove your masks and let the Doctor know just who you are." He said with sick eagerness.
The four women didn't hesitate and pressed the button so their helmets would retract. They slid back and separated into parts that quickly folded themselves away and let the Doctor see for the first time just who was under those helmets.
The Doctor's world seemed to stop as he considered their faces, faces that he had never expected to see again.
"Zoe, Constance, Charley, Lucie?" He asked, not able to believe his eyes especially as Charley and Lucie were supposed to be dead. They all stood there smirking at him like he was nothing, there was no compassion or kindness in any of their eyes. He glared at the Master and demanded to know. "What have you done?"
"You really are a grumpy grandpa now aren't you." The Master said pouting. "I gathered them up and gave them a purpose, I saved them." He taunted the Doctor, not needing to say 'Instead of you' or 'when you wouldn't'. The loss of a companion was something he had always dreaded from the first time one of his travelling companions had died, the sight of Katarina blasting herself into space to save the rest of them haunted him even now.
Sara Kingdom being aged to death by the Time Destructor.
Oliver Harper being cut down by the Vardans.
Jamie McCrimmon, so brave and noble losing his memories.
Ann Kelso being erased to make way for Anya Kingdom.
Adric's freighter exploding.
Angus Goodman, killed so needlessly by an assassin who had been aiming for the Doctor himself.
Kamelion begging to be destroyed and him having to grant that request.
Evelyn Smythe dying of a heart attack.
Peri being blown up.
Gemma Griffin dying at the hands of the Daleks while her brother Samson's life was ruined.
C'rizz, absorbing the genetic manipulator even though it would cost him his life to save Charley and him.
Tamsin Drew, led so astray by the Monk and then dying merely because the Daleks considered her useless.
Molly O'Sullivan, giving her life so bravely to destroy the Eminence and the Dalek Time Controller.
Kalan, another victim of the Daleks and the Time War.
Cinder, killed by Karlax for no good reason.
He had never forgotten any of those who had travelled with him, however briefly. They had all been his friends and even family, he remembered everything they had gone through together and always would. Those moments were so precious to him and kept him going whatever the situation he was face with.
And those were just the ones that had travelled with him, not counting the countless friends he'd lost all across time and space. And yet here before him stood four companions he had thought lost forever, but as they looked at him now, he could see only malevolence in their eyes. The thrill of hurting people and complete loyalty to the Master.
"What have you done?" The Doctor repeated with growing rage inside him. The Master had hurt people he loved, people he cared about and twisted them into an abomination of who they used to be. The Master smirked in victory as he had been waiting to spring this on him.
"I just made a few changes here and there, you know a new coat of paint, a little maintenance. An upgrade or two. Nothing major." He said with an insane chuckle as he was loving every moment of this. "Perhaps a demonstration of how much they have grown since leaving you." The Master said with sick glee and he clapped.
Lila, Whisky, Echo and Victor brought in a number of prisoners who had been caught working with those naughty resistance people and made them stand in front of the nearby wall.
The Doctor's blood ran cold as he realised what was about to happen and he called out to them desperately hoping that something of who they had been remained.
"Stop! You don't have to do this. Remember who you used to be, before the Master! Zoe, you wanted to become more than a robot! You wanted to see the stars! Constance! You used to defend your Wrens at Bletchley Park like a mother bear! You would never let me called you by your first name always insisting I called you Mrs Clarke but you let Flip call you Connie! Charley, you were so bored of life as an Edwardian Lady that you ran away so you could go to Singapore and stowed away on the R-101. You longed for excitement and adventure! Lucie, you were stuck with me by the Time Lords because they confused you for someone else! You helped me stop the Daleks and the Cybermen! Come on that must mean something to you. To all of you." He called out desperately and for a moment, his heart lifted as he saw them hesitate, their eyes glazed slightly as if something was going on inside their heads. That they were remembering all the things they had done with him.
But then his hopes were dashed as he saw the coldness return to their eyes.
"We obey only the Master." The four of them said in unison and with completely deadpan voices, the Doctor's hearts fell as whatever hold the Master had on them was too strong for them to break on their own. He turned away as the four lifted their guns, something he never wanted to see on anyone that travelled with him…and fired as the Master laughed in triumph.
The sound of bullets and cries of pain was too much to bear and the Doctor looked away. He was used to seeing people suffer and would do whatever he could to help, but now it was his enslaved friends that were doing it.
Whatever the Master had done to them, he would undo it! The Doctor swore to himself there and then. Whatever it took, he would bring his friends back! Set them free of the Master and help them remember who they really were he thought with determination giving him fresh determination.
New York, USA…11 Months into the Master's Rule…
Having left Sue after a couple of days of rest they had finally arrived on the east coast of the USA.
John had seen New York before and it stuck in his throat to see what the Master had reduced it too. The tall and incredible buildings still stood giving it the familiar epic skyline, but the Master had burned each of the buildings out and some had broken and collapsed leaving the city a burned and ruined shell of itself.
Martha herself was finding it a hard sight as she remembered that once she had walked through these same streets in 1930 and seeing it now, a broken and empty shell was difficult to ignore.
Becca herself had never been to New York and as such had only seen in pictures and on TV, she being the most recent of Martha's companions found the devastation the Master had inflicted on the city hard to comprehend. She just couldn't understand why he had to be so cruel? Why do it? She thought thinking on all the misery and death he caused, all the people he had hurt.
Moving through Central Park which was more to less untouched Martha saw where Hooverville had once stood, now long gone as were those that had once lived there. She felt a lump in her throat as she realised just how disconnected you became from things the longer you travelled with the Doctor. Laszlo, Tallulah even sweet Frank where all gone now, she thought sadly.
She hated this feeling, the separation of herself from people she had known, how they were gone or not been born yet.
Maybe it was time to put her feet firmly on the ground again she thought with some trepidation after all this was over. Her family would be traumatised she realised and would need all the help they could get to heal. She could hardly abandon them to go running off with the Doctor, could she? Martha thought with a firm sense of responsibility. As much as she loved travelling time and space, like Sue had told her she had a right to a life of her own and to make one however she chose.
They were now waiting for a meeting with one of John's contacts who had a way for them to get across the Atlantic and back to Britain. The idea of heading home made Martha feel a great deal of anxiety as despite having done all the Doctor had asked of her so much could still go wrong.
She just had to trust in the plan and the Doctor one last time.
"Just who is it we're meeting?" Becca asked looking around for any sign of trouble. Martha really wished the girl would have stayed with Sue but she just wouldn't hear of it much to Martha's own worry and annoyance. Becca honestly was too determined for her own good she thought and just hoped a happy ending was waiting at the end of this road for her.
"As I said, an old friend." John told her sternly before another man emerged from the trees.
"Tim." John said with a warm smile and the two men exchanged a hug while Martha and Becca waited patiently. The other man had red hair in a mullet but seemed friendly enough.
"John, honestly man! You are a trouble magnet." Tim said with a smile. "I got what you wanted but it isn't going to be easy…you know getting it over the Atlantic." Time told John who told him.
"I owe you one man." John said and Tim smirked.
"No, you owe me several. By the way, I heard from Kate. She and young little girl are alright." Tim told him and John felt much relieved to have it confirmed. "Come on, you never know when the Toclafane will show up." He told them and they all followed him through the ruined streets down to the city's docks where a boat waited for them.
It was fairly good one, it should get them across the Atlantic if not quickly. Tim told them.
"Managed to stock it with enough food to make the journey. Good luck." Tim told them and then after shaking John's hand he left. Martha turned to both John and Becca.
"Look, I honestly don't think I could have managed this without you. But the next part, I do alone." She told them firmly but John and Becca shared a look of disbelief.
"After all we've been through, that's what you've going with? No chance Martha." John said with a grim smile. "We started this together and we are going to finish it together."
"He's right. I am not going to bail on you now, not after all of this." Becca said with a determined look on her face. "Besides everyone knows you should never go sailing on your own. You never seen any of those horror films about people stranded at sea?" She said teasingly.
Martha honestly was touched by the fact they were going to stick with her, she wanted them as out of harm's way as she could but that wasn't going to happen, she realised and to be honest, she didn't like the idea of being alone either she thought with a smile.
After all what point is there in a journey, if there's no-one to share it with? She thought with resignation and some joy at not having to sail the Atlantic alone.
"Then we'd best get going. It'll probably take us a few weeks to a month to cross the Atlantic in this so best get going if we are going to make the deadline." Martha said with a smile before they all climbed into the boat and set sail. John managing the ropes with Becca while Martha handled the wheel. Her mind focused on Britain.
Time to go home she thought and finally bring down the Master.
There we are, hope you liked it and please leave a review to let me know what you thought.
Tim is John Connor's friend from Terminator 2: Judgement Day, he tries to distract what he thinks is a cop from John before being pushed aside.
Next Chapter - Martha and her team come back to Britain as the Master's plan nears completion, sisters meet again and the fate of everything is in the balance.