The Master opened his eyes, and the man in black smiled.

"Ah, so it seems we're ahead of the curve with this one," he said. "Tell me, do you feel any lethargy? Muscular tremors?"

The Master looked down at his body, noting the barest covering of a uniform grey hospital gown and matching slippers. "As well as can be expected, one supposes," he said. He raised an eyebrow. "I do remember making the decision to try this scenario at some point... but the engine. Which did you use?"

The man in black chuckled as he slid his arm behind the Master's shoulders and raised him into a sitting position. "Not to worry, it's been but a few weeks. I began work right away."

"I see," said the Master, as the man helped him down. He scanned the room, and quickly found a new, impeccably tailored outfit, all in black, on a shelf. As he began changing out of the hospital gear, he noticed some odd scars on his body that weren't there before, and shook his head. "Really now," he said, checking himself in a mirror, "wouldn't you say you were a bit rushed for time?"

The man laughed. "Guilty as charged. Wouldn't want to miss our window of opportunity!"

"Of course." The Master took one last look at himself in the mirror, straightening his collar.

"All that work." He turned around to face the man.

"The Doctor's removal as a thorn in our side will be but icing on the cake."

The man picked up a glass of water from a nearby counter, studied it, then took a sip. He raised it in a small salute.

"Indeed."

"I know what this might look like," said the Master. "I assure you, I wish to end any possible hostilities."

Behind him, Mal lay on a mobile bed, Multiple sensors and displays lined the sides; a doctor stood beside it, checking them and eyeing Mal when he wasn't looking at the men near him. He was pale and his hands were shaky; whether the sheen of sweat was from fear or the afternoon heat was anyone's guess.

"Not interested," said Zoe, rifle shouldered and pointed at the group.

"We could hear him out," said Book. He looked at Mal again, then at the Master. "Perhaps you could have the doctor bring the captain over to this side of the field? As a gesture of good faith?"

The Master paused, looking at him. "Of course."

There was another, longer pause.

"I'm sorry, did you mean right now? That would be unacceptable. I will return him after I have finished negotiations, not before."

"Could you at least let us know how he is, what state of health?"

The Master gestured at Mal. "Why don't you ask him yourself?"

"How's it going, sir?" called Zoe.

Mal didn't answer.

"He's sedated," said the doctor. "It was, ah, the safest I could make it for him to come out here." He glanced at Mal, then the Master, before looking back up at her. "He's not exactly the most easy patient to deal with."

"Oh, blast! What are you doing back here?"

The voice came from outside the hold, past the Master's group. He turned to face the Doctor, who was coming up behind him, flanked by Jayne and Jo. Jayne had his hand on the butt of his pistol, but hadn't drawn it yet. Jo had fallen back behind the two men.

"Ah, there you are Doctor, I had been hoping to meet you here," said the Master. "I was hoping to make peace with you here. It's clear you don't know why I'm here, but I'm fairly sure now I know why you're in this place."

"Spare me the theatrics, will you?" said the Doctor. "I'm fairly sure I know why you're here now, at any rate." He gestured into the hold, toward one wall with a few crates. "It was obvious where your TARDIS was. All I had to do was wait."

"And here I am," said the Master with a nod and a smile. "I have a proposal for you, if we could speak somewhere more private?"

"Right here is fine," said the Doctor. He crossed his arms. "I don't think I'll be interested, but I will hear what you have to say before I take you back to Gallifrey for trial."

"Trial? Really? On what charges?"

"You've done far more than enough to warrant a trial, and you well know it."

"I guess you'd better take me there, then," said the Master. "Or can you? Something wrong with your own transport" He nodded his head toward the Doctor's TARDIS. "Something over-stressed, perhaps? Or readings coming out all wrong?"

The Doctor scowled. "I will figure out how you've sabotaged my ship, but that doesn't matter now-"

"Oh, but I think it does, Doctor. This system actually exists as a pocket with it's own universal boundary."

"Balderdash!"

"My own ship was able to handle the extra stresses, but an old Type 40 like yours?" The Master shook his head, and reached down, picking up a case at his feet. He held it up.

"I've chosen a few parts from my stock of spares," he said, "and I'm willing to share them, to replace whatever you need. I have only one request."

"And that is?"

"Let bygones be bygones. I suspect that our paths will cross again, but for now? Let's just part amicably."

The Doctor opened his mouth to speak -

BLAM

The Master, his face a mask of astonishment, staggered.

"What, what is the meaning -

BLAM

He let out a pained wheeze and grabbed at his chest. He fell to his knees.

The Doctor looked like he'd been knifed in the gut. "No! Not now! This can't -" He whirled around, as Jayne had a moment before.

Jayne, very carefully, laid his gun on the ground.

The man in black smiled, smoking gun in his hand. A squad of soldiers stood behind him, weapons ready.

"He talks a lot, don't he?"