Just going to pop a warning in here for the foreseeable future...

TW: Violence, death, physical abuse, emotional abuse... Basically, it's The Master and we all know what he's like.

I do not condone their behaviour!


Sleep was ripped from her by the loud, incessant knocking at her door. Hally's eyes blinked open. It didn't feel like morning. She groaned and covered her face with her hands, her body still heavy with sleep.

"Urgh, what?!" She shouted, hoping the culprit would leave her alone.

Of course not.

The door unlocked and Armitage entered, flicking on her bedroom light. Luckily, her eyes were already covered by her hands, else she might have thrown something at him.

"Seriously?!" She grumbled.

"Up. Dress. We're leaving." Armitage demanded in his gruff voice.

"Again?" Hally peaked through a gap in her hands at the guard, a frown pinching her face.

"You have 10 minutes." He slammed the door closed once more, leaving her alone. Although, she wasn't truly alone. She could practically feel his impatient glare through the door.

Hally let out a noise of protest but pulled herself up out of the bed. She wouldn't put it past him to drag her out in 10 minutes, whether she was dressed or not. She pulled on the black jeans and black button-down top that had appeared in her wardrobe and yanked open her bedroom door. He stood, waiting for her. The first thing she noticed was that no light was coming in through the windows. It was still dark outside. "What's going on?" She looked back up to her guard. Where were they going in such a hurry?

He ignored her, taking her by the upper arm as he so often did and pulled her down the stairs and out of the front door. The sky was the kind of dark that only happens in the early hours of the morning. She guessed it was perhaps 2 or 3 am. There was a large black Jeep waiting for them on the road. Armitage opened the nearest door and placed her inside, shutting and locking the door. She expected him to then reappear in the driver's seat but he opened the opposite door and slid in beside her. The car started and pulled away from Number 10.

Hally frowned, unease settling in her chest. "Will you tell me what's going on?" She pressed, turning to look at her escort.

Armitage glared at her as if willing for her to shut up.

She tried again, refusing to let him get away with ignoring her. "Where. Are. We. Going?"

The usually composed man let out a tired sigh. He pulled open his jacket, Hally just realising he was wearing an all-black suit instead of his usual black military garb, and pulled his phone from the inside pocket. Hally noted with muted alarm, the gun strapped to his side, hidden as he straightened out his clothing. He silently began typing away on the device, face set in hard determination.

A moment later, his phone vibrated as it received a call. Armitage hit accept before holding the phone out to her. She took it apprehensively and brought it to her ear.

"Morning, sweetheart."

Hally frowned at the exasperated tone of Saxon's voice, as if he had other things he needed to be doing at that moment.

"What's going on?" Hally asked, flicking a look to Armitage who had gone back to simply observing her.

"I just need you to listen to me." The command washed over Hally and in that moment all she was aware of, was his voice. There was a pause. "That's it. Breathe." Her body obeyed him, taking in a deep breath as her muscles uncoiled. "You're going to be a good girl and follow any instruction that Armitage gives you, understand?" His voice was low, concentrated. As he spoke, Hally felt the fog that had invaded her mind roll in heavier. Thoughts slowed in her brain, as if caught and captured by the darkness.

"Yes…" She'd hardly been aware that she'd answered him. Her voice floated out of her, as if not really her own.

"You will not speak to anyone other than myself and Armitage." He cooed.

"Okay…" She agreed, effortlessly.

She heard the smile in his voice. "Good girl. Now pass the phone back will you?"

Hally did so silently, turning to look out of the window. Her mind was so quiet, blocked up by the unrelenting murkiness. Armitage's voice barely registered.

"Sorry to have bothered you, Sir, she'd not stopped asking questions since I woke her and I thought it best to subdue as quickly as possible. Airport ETA is 25 minutes."

"Yes, Sir."

"Yes, everything is all set."

He must have ended the call as Armitage went silent. Hally sat, numb for the rest of the drive. The car slowed to a halt, outside was mainly darkness. Flashing lights. Soldiers. Other cars and planes. Armitage had said airport.

"Don't move." Armitage's brusque voice ordered before he got out of the car.

She didn't move. She sat silently as she watched out of the window. As her eyes started to adjust to the darkness she began to make out about half a dozen grounded planes. Groups of soldiers wearing different uniforms were rushing around. Blue flashing lights illuminated the car and a siren briefly sounded. She wasn't sure how much time had passed. Her mind had been stuffed with cotton wool.

Finally, the car door to her right was pulled open. "Out."

She swivelled and stood from the car. A few of the planes had gone now. Armitage's hand hovered over the back of her neck, guiding her to a small private jet. She climbed the steps onto the aircraft. The hulking presence behind her manoeuvred her into a seat without resistance. Then he moved to sit opposite, eyes trained on her. Hally looked around blankly. The interior was small. No more than six seats. Lucy Saxon came into view, sitting on the other side of the aisle. She was followed by Saxon, he sat and shot Hally a charming smile.

"Nice of you to join us."

She frowned, something seemed off. If there had been any space in her mind for thought she would have recognised that he was playing with her. Instead, Hally relaxed back into her seat and waited. Armitage was silent throughout the flight. Saxon and his wife made idle chit-chat as they took off. Their boring back and forth tailed off and Hally felt Saxon's attention turn to her. She looked over at him, his eyes were transfixed on hers. A mixture of excitement and trepidation.

"For the next 60 minutes, I need you to do as you're told." There was a hard edge to his voice. "Armitage will escort you to the flight deck where you will stand quietly and watch." Hally raised an eyebrow slightly. "Understood?"

Hally nodded slowly, the words escaping her mouth before she'd had the chance to stop them. "What happens after the 60 minutes?"

His face broke into a knowing smirk. Eyes glittering. "Well, that depends on you, sweetheart."

A shiver ran down her spine, the clammy fingertips of fear hovering up her back. The flight wasn't long, after they landed Armitage kept her back as the Saxon's disembarked. After a few minutes, he led her off the jet. She looked around briefly, unable to get a good look with Armitage's hand steering her quickly inside. They'd landed on a kind of cloudbase. A ship in the sky. Planes were still landing as she was moved inside.

Her guard manoeuvred her through the base, along corridors with official-looking doors leading off to places unknown. The pressure of his hand was constant on her lower back. There were more soldiers up here and men and women wearing suits, rushing around the base. Hally was struck suddenly with the realisation that this was the first time in a long time that she'd come into contact with other people. People who weren't prisoners, or guards or Saxon's staff. It made a little more sense now, Saxon's insistence that she behave. But why bring her here at all? Surrounded by all these people. What was happening here? The pair came to a door and Armitage typed a code into the panel on the right. The door slid open, they'd entered into what Hally assumed was the ship's bridge. It was split across two floors. The upper level, on her right, seemed to be the control hub for the ship. People were milling around the controls. A central staircase led down to the lower level. This area had been laid out as if for a conference. Cameras pointed towards the front of the room. The room itself was quite beautiful, wooden and glass panels lined the walls from top to bottom. A large glass table sat proudly in the middle. There were what Hally assumed were Government officials already sat at it, laptops out, typing away.

There were soldiers in here too. Again, some were wearing different uniforms. Armitage nudged her to the right, setting her in place towards the front of the room. Her back against the wooden panelling on the wall. He took a step behind her, out of her line of vision. But she could still feel him there. Hovering just behind her left shoulder. She knew they were waiting for something, but couldn't decipher what it could possibly be.

A short, important-looking man placed himself at the top of the stairs, addressing the cameras.

"Two minutes, everyone." He announced. American, Hally noted. "According to the treaty, all armed personnel are requested to leave the flight deck immediately." Hally turned her head and watched as all the uniformed soldiers obediently left the room. Hally sent a calm look back at Armitage, he looked back at her, face black. Almost daring her to say something about the gun that she knew was stashed inside his jacket. She turned back to look forward, catching Saxon's eye. He and his wife had taken their seats at the central table. He sent her a playful wink, following her train of thought.

"Broadcasting at 7:58 with the arrival timed for 8:00 exactly. And, er, good luck everyone." The American man smiled stiffly.

Hally cocked her head.

Arrival?

The cameras blinked into life and the man at the top of the stairs straightened with newfound purpose. "My fellow Americans, patriots, people of the world. I stand before you today as ambassador for humanity, a role I will undertake with the utmost solemnity. Perhaps our Toclafane cousins can offer us much…"

Hally's face scrunched up, initially with confusion but then with pain as her mind started screaming at her.

The American man was still talking. "…but what is important is not that we gain material benefits, but that we learn to see ourselves anew."

Toclafane.

Her head throbbed.

What?

What was happening?

Toclafane.

But they were…

It felt as if someone was pulling at Hally's thoughts, tugging her mind. The tension felt heavy, burning inside her head. She winced, letting out an involuntary quiet pant.

She felt Armitage shift behind her.

"And I ask you now, I ask of the human race, to join with me in welcoming our friends. I give you the Toclafane." The American moved to the side, presenting the space behind him.

Four metal spheres materialised into the space. Whirring as they hovered around his head.

Hally squeezed her eyes shut. Her mind burned. Something was very wrong. What was happening?

Armitage moved again, this time she felt the heavy weight of his hand now wrapped around the back of her neck. Keeping her still.

Perhaps she'd made another noise. But she couldn't help it. Her head was splitting with pain.

"My name is Arthur Coleman Winters, President Elect of the United States of America, and designated representative of the United Nations. I welcome you to the planet Earth and its associated moon."

Everything was happening too quickly for her gridlocked mind to keep up. The four metal spheres glided around the President, considering him. They spoke, their modulated voices seemed to come from everywhere.

"You're not the Master." One spoke.

Her vision was blurry, she couldn't see. Another wave of agony battered against her mind. The spheres were talking but she couldn't hear what they were saying anymore. Hally's hands went to the sides of her head, squeezing in silent hope that it would ease the pain. Her legs buckled underneath her. The hard floor smacked against her knees.

"Where's my Master, pretty please?" A sphere begged, its voice childish and terrifying.

Saxon's voice rang out. "Oh, all right then. It's me. Ta da! Sorry, sorry, I have this effect. People just get obsessed. Is it the smile? Is it the aftershave? Is it the capacity to laugh at myself? I don't know. It's crazy."

Thoughts were racing through her mind. But they were trapped. Trapped inside the fog. Straining to get free. Her head was splitting open. That's how it felt. Something was peeling back the fog and pulling her with it.

Pain.

She let out another whimper. It was taking everything she had not to scream. The hard wooden floor pressed against her knees, her fingers digging into her skull.

Armitage's hand was still at the back of her neck. Thoughts pushed at the invisible boundary inside her mind. Pushing and pushing. The tension grew. The kind of tension you get when you're blowing up a balloon. Pushing and pushing. Not sure when it's going to pop.

"I'm taking control, Uncle Sam, starting with you. Kill him." There was a sound of a blaster. Hally looked up to see the space where the President had stood, now empty. Mr Saxon watched, arms crossed over one another. A self-satisfied pout on his face.

Instantly, around the room guns were drawn. Her stomach sank as she realised the men who had drawn the guns were all pointing them away from Saxon. They were his men. Training their weapons on the remaining civilians. Armitage had knelt beside her, one hand rested on the back of her neck, the other was pressing against the front of her shoulder, keeping her upright. Keeping her still.

"Guards!" Saxon shouted, clapping his hands happily.

"Nobody move! Nobody move!" One of the armed guards ordered. The room fell still as those not under Saxon's control submitted.

Saxon smiled and turned slowly to the camera. "Now then, peoples of the Earth. Please attend carefully."

There was a blur, something seemed to jump out of nothing.

"Stop him!"

The blur stopped abruptly when two of Saxon's men grabbed it, forcing it to the ground. Hally's eyes widened as the long brown coat and desperate brown eyes came into focus.

"We meet at last, Doctor. Oh, ho. I love saying that!" Saxon had leapt up the staircase to leer down at The Doctor.

Hally thought she was going to be sick, she doubled over but Armitage's hand on her shoulder pulled her upright. Forcing her to remain watching the scene in front of her.

"Stop it! Stop it now!" The Doctor bellowed.

Saxon pulled a face of disgust at The Doctor. "As if the perception filter's going to work on me. And look, it's the girlie and the freak. Although, I'm not sure which one's which."

Hally turned to follow his gaze, another blur jumped forward. This time the body was knocked back and to the floor. Lying motionless. It was Jack. He'd been hit in the chest with a laser blast. Hally's eyes were wet, her cheeks damp. She turned her head back to Saxon, eyes drawn to the device held tightly in his right hand. Aimed at Jack's, now dead, body.

Laser Screwdriver.

The tension in her mind snapped.

Like a taught elastic band. Finally ripping apart.

She did scream this time. Her body jolted forward. She was sure that had Armitage not been holding her, her face would have smacked the floor. Pain ricocheted around her mind as the fog finally ripped away, all her thoughts crashing into her consciousness all at once.

"Master, just calm down. Just look at what you're doing. Just stop! Please, stop! Just let her go, she's got nothing to do with this!"

It took Hally a moment to realise The Doctor was talking. Well shouting. Begging. About her. Hally looked up, her head was ringing. But she was free. Whatever hold he'd had on her mind. He'd let go.

The Master followed The Doctor's gaze over towards Hally, a knowing, smug smile ghosted his lips.

"Nice of you to join us."

Everything around her seemed to melt away into nothingness. The Master turned away from her, addressing The Doctor once more.

She could feel herself shaking.

Now that the pain had lessened, now that she could think and feel. Her emotions smacked her hard in the face.

Rage.

Hurt.

Rage.

Fear.

Rage.

This whole time.

It had been him.

He was alive.

Everything, had been him.

He was alive?

She remembered now. The memories floating back to her as if they'd been there the whole time. She remembered the silo. The Doctor, Jack and Martha and the 'Professor'. He had…

He had shot her in the head?!

She'd told him everything.

He knew everything.

It was as if she had awoken from a year long sleep. But she'd awoken inside hell.

Hell.

He was alive.

He had The Doctor. Oh God.

The Doctor.

Everything. Had. Been. Planned.

He had done all of this.

All of this, to her.

Rage.

The Master was monologuing, but she wasn't listening. "And if Lazarus made himself younger, what if I reverse it? Another hundred years?"

The Master aimed the laser screwdriver at The Doctor this time. It was only when he started convulsing violently that Hally was ripped from her thoughts and back into the present. He was hurting The Doctor. Hally didn't stop to think. She twisted to her left, her right hand shooting out and snatching the weapon that she knew was stashed against the body behind her. Her sudden movement caused him to lose his balance which was all the head start she needed. She stepped over Jack's body as she strode into the middle of the room, the gun pointed directly at The Master's right heart. His eyes met hers and the screwdriver clicked off. The Doctor collapsed in a heap, but in her peripheral, she could see that he was moving. Slowly, but moving. Not dead. The Master narrowed his eyes, cocking his head to one side before plastering on a caricature of disappointment.

"Now, now. We've talked about this." He cooed, sending her a disapproving pout.

The click of the gun being cocked was loud against the fearful silence. Her hand was steady this time.

The Master let out a dramatic sigh, looking over at Armitage as if he'd accidentally let his pet jump up on the sofa. "That's the second time she's taken your gun from you…" Armitage received a warning glare.

She could feel the gaze of her guard burning a hole in the side of her head but she wasn't budging.

The Master's attention swiftly turned back to her once more. "Darling… put the gun down." He gave her a patronising smile. One you might give to a small child who was trying to put their socks on for the first time. Trying and failing.

Martha had crawled over to where The Doctor had fallen, gathering him up in her arms. Hally dared a look over at him, needing him to be ok. He was not. The Master had aged him to the point where Hally could see he was now struggling to keep himself upright. His brown hair was all but gone, apart from a few dots of wispy white. His now, aged eyes met hers for a second and he gave her a subtle shake of the head. No.

The Master's laugh was slow, vicious. "Go on. Do as he says." He chided, having witnessed their short interaction. "Daddy's little girl." His head fell back in laughter. Hally clenched her teeth, her eyes stinging.

She needed to stop him.

But.

He was alive

"Oooh, but there it is." The Master's gaze darkened, mouth twitching. "There's the real reason you won't shoot me."

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Armitage edging towards her.

She wasn't going to shoot him. She couldn't shoot him. There was nothing she could do.

He had them.

All of them.

Her eyes never dropped from his. Burning with fury as she lowered the gun. Armitage wasted no time in grabbing it from her. His hand was back on her, pushing hard on her shoulder as he now trained the weapon towards her. "On your knees." Armitage ordered, the pressure through his hand increasing.

The Master gave her a slow smile and tilted his chin up, eyes flashing dangerously when she didn't move.

She screamed obscenities at him in her head, knowing full well that he wouldn't be able to hear her due to the cuff around her neck, as she allowed Armitage to push her to her knees in front of him.

The Master let out a slow breath as he smiled easily. "Beautiful."

Then, with a joyous bounce, he'd turned his attention elsewhere. It was maddening. His intense obsession flitting between his prisoners and finally landing on Martha. Who was still kneeling by The Doctor's side.

"Ah, she's a would-be doctor." The Master goaded. "But tonight, Martha Jones, we've flown them in... all the way from prison!" He clapped his hands and gestured proudly towards the back of the room. Hally would have turned her head to look if it wasn't for the gun currently pressed threateningly over her right temple.

Martha's face broke as multiple footsteps were forced into the room. "Mum…" Martha's eyes misted over.

"I'm sorry." A voice Hally didn't recognise whimpered.

The Doctor spoke. His voice weak and raspy, but Hally could hear the determination in his words. He hadn't given up. "The Toclafane. What are they? Who are they?"

The Master skidded to his knees in front of The Doctor, gripping him by the chest. "Doctor, if I told you the truth, your hearts would break."

One of the spheres, the 'toclafane', glided forward hovering above The Master. "Is it time? Is it ready?"

Another spoke from behind him. "Is the machine singing?"

The Master stood up and checked his watch, as if he'd just been reminded that he had other things he should be doing. "Two minutes past." He looked up at the camera, still broadcasting to the world. "So, Earthlings. Basically, er, end of the world." He grinned, racing up the stairs. "Here come the drums!" His head fell back in ecstasy as music blasted over the sound system. The music was drowning out most other sounds from the room, but Hally could hear the cries for help over the tannoy system that was still receiving official broadcasts from the earth.

The Master pulled Lucy onto the bridge, they clutched onto one another as they watched their destruction play out on the planet below. Both sickeningly giddy. Hally's jaw flexed.

The music cut out and The Master's voice rang out over the sound system as the Toclafane received their orders. "Remove one-tenth of the population!"

Her eyes fell to the floor, face burning. Her knees were starting to hurt. Hally tried to focus on that, instead of allowing herself to think on the horrors that were taking place miles below them. Martha was crying. The Doctor was whispering gently in her ear. Jack, who had revived minutes ago was watching them. His face a mixture of pain and dismay.

He was slaughtering millions.

And for what?

Watching Jack try to comfort Martha, pass her his Vortex Manipulator, guilt stabbed at her chest. She couldn't stop him. All of this. She could have stopped him, but she hadn't.

Jack looked back at Hally, shooting a meaningful look at Martha. The human followed his gaze to look back at The Doctor's daughter. Eyes flicked to the guard with his gun pressed against her head. Hally frowned slightly, urging Martha to go with her eyes. The human was torn, but slowly she stood, legs shaking. She gave one last sad look back at her family before clutching the manipulator and fading away.

Jack's eyes trailed over Hally, the concern clear on his face. The hand on her shoulder squeezed a threat. She moved her head the tiniest amount, trying to warn Jack to stay clear of her. Any acts of heroism from Jack would surely end badly for the both of them.

The Doctor was dragged up onto the bridge and sandwiched between The Master and Lucy, forcing him to watch. Hally's muscles protested at being forced to remain so still as destruction rained down around them. She knew that the gun pressed to her head wasn't a real threat to her life. She could remember now, how The Master's eyes had crackled with anger as he'd recounted to her that she'd almost died back at the facility. He wouldn't kill her now. But the others in the room, she wasn't sure how far he would be willing to go to make a point and that terrified her. The gun to her head wasn't a threat on her life. More a reminder that her actions would have consequences.

Suddenly there was a click and the pleading, terrified voices of those still crying out for help cut out. The Master bounced over to the railing overlooking the lower half of the room. "That's enough of that." He sent a look over to a soldier near the still-recording camera and sliced his hand under his neck, signalling to cut the feed. "Who's going to be watching it now anyway…" He grinned mischievously.

He surveyed the room, clapping his hands, addressing them as if he were now dealing with serious business.

"Now, you stupid apes have a choice. I am, after all, a merciful Master." He smirked. "I'll keep it simple for you. You will submit to me. Your Master. And, in return, I will let you live." He wiggled his eyebrows playfully. "I'll even give you a job. House you. Feed you. So very generous of me." He opened his hands out towards the small group. "Or I'll kill you. Easy peasy." He laughed manically.

The humans in the room were manhandled into a line and forced to their knees. Martha's family along with them. The Doctor and Jack were set down on either side of Hally. The three of them slightly in front of the rest, a guard holding each of them in place. Jack glared angrily at The Master, his breath coming out in pants. In contrast, The Doctor just stared ahead, as if he'd somehow detached himself from what was happening. Hally dared a look at him, but he remained looking forward. Stoic. Perhaps it was for the best. As she had done with Jack, any interaction between the two of them would likely incite violence from their capture. Her hearts ached.

The Master perched at the bottom of the stairs, watching as his soldiers lined up behind the prisoners, guns pointed to their heads. Bile rose in Hally's throat. She wanted desperately to block it out, to close her eyes and pretend it wasn't happening. The first human whimpered a pitiful, "Master…"

The Master's mouth twitched with a smile.

Slowly, small voices spoke along the line. Giving The Master exactly what he wanted.

Until one of them didn't.

The sound of the gunshot was so loud that Hally was sure her entire body had jerked, despite the fact that she'd been braced for it.

She couldn't look as she heard the nameless body hit the floor. Someone screamed over to her left, slightly behind her.

Then, as if nothing had happened, they continued along the line again.

No one else refused The Master's offer.

The Master grinned and rose to his feet, sauntering slowly towards the remaining trio.

"Now for you three." He paced between them, twirling his screwdriver. Jack struggled against the grip of his guard, earning him a sharp hit to the back of the head with the butt of a gun.

The Master crouched on his haunches to look them all in the eye. "I'm going to give you all one chance. Just one." His face held no playfulness now. Steeled with resolution. "Say my name. Or Martha's family dies." His voice had dropped to a calm purr.

He swivelled to face Jack. "Let's start with you. You strike me as a smart man." He smirked. "Remember. Just one chance."

Jack growled in resistance but never the less he sent a glance over to The Doctor. The Doctor didn't return Jacks glance, he simply bowed his head to the floor. Jack bared his teeth and after a moment spat out. "Master."

The word washed over The Master and his face split into a wonderful grin.

His eyes turned to Hally expectantly. She stared at him, trying to send as much anger as possible through her glower.

"I'm waiting." His dark eyes constricted.

"No…" She hissed through gritted teeth.

Jack turned to stare at her, wide-eyed. Her husband snarled, raising his laser screwdriver and pointing it at one of the Jones's.

"I can kill them, if you prefer?" He cocked his head to one side.

She just stared back at him stubbornly.

"Hal…" Jack murmured beside her. Warning. Pleading.

"This isn't a fight you can win, little girl." The Master sneered at her. "You've already lost. I will kill all three, right now! Right in front of you! Do you understand?" He barked. His self-controlled act all but gone.

"Yes." She responded, blankly.

He let out a deep breath. "Yes, … what?" His eyebrow cocked.

She refused. She would not say his name. Not now. He would not force his name from her mouth. Not when she could so vividly hear all the other times she had used it. Out of love, out of trust and in their most intimate moments. Not when she had unravelled underneath him and called out his name. Not after crying herself to sleep, grieving him, whispering his name. He would not take that from her.

He had told her. He had said himself. The only power he held over her, was the power she gave him. She would not give him that power today. She opened her mouth to deny him once more.

"Master." The voice that spoke wasn't her own. It had come from her left. From her father. His eyes were gently closed, and looking at him now you could have been fooled into thinking he hadn't spoken at all. But she had heard it. The Master had heard it.

His head had whipped to The Doctor, tears pooled in his eyes with elation and the laser screwdriver lowered.

A wail of desperation was The Master's only warning before Hally launched herself at him. The impact toppled him onto his back and Hally's hands went straight for his neck. Her grip tightened, but it did nothing to stop the wild grin growing on his face. Rough hands pulled her violently off him. Armitage. He pulled her to her feet but she thrashed madly against him. His right arm snaked around her neck and pulled her back until her throat was caught in the crook of his arm. His left hand went to the back of her head, forcing her still.

The Master was chuckling to himself, rising to his feet. He stalked towards her slowly, catching her jaw in his hand tightly.

"Get your hands off her!" Jack yelled, two additional guards grabbed at him to slow his struggle.

The Master smirked, shooting Jack a wicked grin. "Don't worry 'Captain'." He looked back to Hally, his eyes glinting darkly. "There are plenty of other ways I can show her who her Master is."

Her knee came up and connected hard with the area in between The Master's legs. He grunted in pain, releasing his grip on her jaw as he doubled over.

He was laughing again breathlessly as he fought against the pain to regain composure. "Did that make you feel better?" He tilted his head up to look at her, eyebrows raised in delight.

"Yes." She growled, still wrestling hopelessly against the solid muscle behind her.

The Master's gaze softened into something new. "Then perhaps you do understand."

Hally paused in her escape attempt, her brow creasing.

The Master waved his hand at Armitage. "Get her out of here." He dismissed her, grimacing as he turned his back.

The urge to throttle him was back.

Armitage dragged her from the room, her legs and arms trying to make contact with whatever body part she could, screaming with frustration.

He pulled her out the door at the back, leading her to the upper levels of the ship. She eventually stopped fighting him. Exhaustion pulled at her limbs. Sensing her resolve weakening, Armitage had dropped his arm from her neck, guiding her by the arm instead. Hally was shaking. With each step she took her vision was blurring with tears. Her throat was burning. Her abdomen hurt. She'd probably reopened that wound.

He marched her along a wide corridor, along the walls were various art pieces. None quite matched the feel of the other. Somehow it came across as expensive. Eclectically.

They reached the end of the corridor and Armitage typed a long code into the keypad by the door. With a well-oiled hum, the door slid open. The hulking man pushed her across the threshold.

"You're under 24-hour surveillance so don't try anything stupid. If you require anything, knock."

She shot him an incredulous look over her shoulder. "I will not be 'requiring anything'." She spat.

The door slid shut behind her. Deadlocked.

Hally's jaw clenched, surveying her new gilded cage.