Volume 4, Chapter 25:
The Doctor and Team RWBY instantly returned to UNIT Headquarters as it looked to be a mess with people running around and the sirens going off. The moment they were ready to go travelling, the Doctor sensed something off and he knew who it was.
The Master was here in Vacuo.
And he is being transported to UNIT at the very moment.
Weiss: Anyone else thinks...they've never reacted like this with Salem.
The Doctor: That's because The Master is levels above her.
They headed inside to see the same scenario as outside while Willow was giving out instructions to people. They approached the screens as they watched live aerial footage of the UNIT in which the Master was in.
Willow: Troops are saying he's very calm and only cackling.
The Doctor: That's just his way of preparing for what's to come. What room are you taking him?
Willow: One of the most secured and guarded rooms of this headquarters. Room 1971 in the lowest level known as the Deep.
The Doctor: Good. *Grabs my chess pieces* I'll be waiting for him.
Weiss: Doctor?
Yang: You're not actually gonna go in there and chat with him? You don't know what he might have planned.
The Doctor: Perhaps. Then again, we are in a game of chess and it's now my turn.
The Doctor made his leave while Team RWBY stayed behind and watched on, hoping that nothing goes horribly wrong.
Meanwhile, trouble has arrived as the UNIT airship made it's landing with various soldiers waiting at the entrance including a few huntsmen and huntresses like Qrow, Winter, and Raven. The doors slowly opened and the first face to emerge was none other than The Master himself. They watched in shock to see a younger look of Arthur Watts while remains in cuff and escorted by the soldiers.
The Master: I knew I would be expecting guests. Yet, I'm still waiting for the special one.
Winter: You're not gonna find him anywhere.
The Master: *chuckles* We'll see.
The soldiers continue to escort the Master into the Deep level of UNIT by taking the back entrance of the headquarters and onto the elevator.
In a different elevator, the Doctor made his way in and clicked the button to take him to the Deep level.
Both Time Lords felt their presence growing closer by the minute. The Master only smiled and chuckled while the Doctor was focused and only wanted one thing from him: Answers.
At the main section of UNIT, everyone watched the cameras as they saw both Time Lords getting closer to Room 1971. They did not know what was going to happen and they were worried of what was going to happen.
Yang: Better hold on tight...cause it's going to get real intense...
Both have landed in the Deep level but on opposite ends. Both the Doctor and the Master looked past different cells which contained other aliens and monsters that have been captured. The Master was impressed but the Doctor was in shock, wondering how Willow and Nicholas did all of this.
Sora: Here they come...
The Doctor used his UNIT badge to scan the door and finally enters the room.
As on the opposite end, the doors opened with soldiers entering alongside the Master handcuffed and the suitcase he brought.
And that's when both Time Lords made eye contact and approached the table that would keep them separate. The soldiers noticed the Doctor which he gave them the signal to leave, and they followed, now only leaving the two Time Lords alone.
The Master: *smirks* Doctor.
The Doctor: Master.
The Master: Oh ho ho, have I been waiting for this moment. I must admit, I was caught off guard with your recent move and not responding to any action. That's when I realized your next move was silence...and so was mine.
The Doctor: Seems like you've lost your touch on how I do things around here now.
The Master: *twitches then breathes* Not for long. *removes the handcuffs* Such a downgrade of handcuffs.
The Doctor: I'm here. You're here. That's what we both want so let's begin.
The Master only smiled as he brought the briefcase on the table which worried the others watching of what he could have inside until they watched in confusion when The Master opened it to reveal an entire board of chess.
Winter: A chess board?
Ruby: Created by the Time Lords. This is how their game begins.
The Doctor and The Master took their seats and placed out their chess pieces while the others watched. The Doctor took each look at his own chess pieces that had his friends crafted as the top half.
The Master: Like them? I knew by getting you to the nerves, I thought why not make your pieces of those that are very dear to you. *Pulls out the timer* Shall we begin now?
As if the timer was a ticking bomb and all the chess pieces were the wires attached to it. The game of chess between the Doctor and the Master has begun. The Doctor makes the first move.
The Doctor: How did you survive the Time War and escape Gallifrey?
The Master followed with his first move.
The Master: I didn't survive yet I escaped. There were no such things at rules during the final days of the Time War and I did what I always do.
The Doctor: Find ways to cheat death because you always dreaded a universe with you.
The Master: Exactly. I think this is perhaps my favorite incarnation of you just yet, Doctor. So strong, on point, determined, an old man with a young boy's face and those years of knowledge, experience, and disasters are paying off.
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Ruby: He still thinks this is the Original Doctor.
Yang: How long will this go until he finds out?
Weiss: As long as he remains calm, collective, and not trying to act like the Original, The Master might not figure it out.
Nora: This is the most intense game of chess that isn't boring.
Marrow: And a scary interrogation.
Winter: It might be a while but I think it's better that way, we might uncover a lot of things.
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The Master: *makes the next move* I was running out of time, the Cruciform was in the possession of the Daleks, and You were taking all the glory by preparing to use the Moment. With the rules beyond gone, I prepared a last-minute plan to make sure I would escape Gallifrey even in death.
The Doctor: *realization* By using the clone device created during the early era of Time Lords which then became prohibited and locked away with the Cruciform, The Moment, and the mask of Omega.
The Master: YES! *chuckles* I knew for the universe to still have its rightful lord and Master; I needed to create an exact clone of myself. All of my memories, knowledge, personality, everything that defines me was copied on except for one thing.
The Doctor: Regeneration. You are the clone of yourself.
And with a quick-thinking answer from the Doctor, he was able to steal one chess piece away from the Master, surprising him, and everyone else watching.
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Nora: OOOOOOHHHH SHIT! GO DOC!
Blake: Element of Surprise.
Sun: No kidding! A shocking reveal and a steal!
Sora: So it would seem the Original Master died in the Time War while his clone escaped. That's what he meant by he didn't survive but he escaped.
Ruby: And so the lore builds on.
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The Master: Tsk. Well played, Doctor. You caught a steal and your quick thinking caught on. All was almost complete until an outside blast interfered with the system, frying it, and thus completing everything of me but regeneration. But I must thank you, Doctor, for in fact *steals a piece* You were the one who handed it to me.
The Doctor: What?...
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Jaune: Crap, The Master got him...
Dalek Khan: We're missing the important part, he got the regeneration from the Doctor. How?
Weiss: Not directly from the Doctor. *Looks at my hand* But from me...
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The Master: Your precious fiancé. Your regeneration directly to her and from there, I stole a small portion of it. Such boldness and bravery that you gave her a part of your 12 regenerations to her. You see, I took a small portion from her successfully during our fight in the Ever After. It's the very reason I survived the slaughter of the Jabblewalkers. And when I took the body of Arthur Watts, I spent multiple years trying to complete the missing piece of my body which was the regeneration until recently, I had it complete. All I needed was a little tech from Kilg%re, a crucial blast from my Cyberman, and Voila. The Master, Reborn.
The Doctor: You mentioned the Ever After. A fairy tale world. So how did the rightful Lord and Master become an actual cat?
Another off-guard moment for the Master and another piece taken by the Doctor. The Master slightly growled before tapping his finger on the table to sound like the heartbeats of the Time Lords, the Drums.
The Master: A tale I very much wish to forget but I didn't exact land here as expected. Matter of fact, this tale goes longer. I found a fried-up vortex manipulator and was fixing it as this clone body was being created. When the Daleks were approaching, I simply gave my clone self the vortex manipulator and went on from there. But it would seem some of the wires were still completely fried when I activated it. I felt myself burning in agony as the bright light blinded my eyes. Then I felt the cold ground of concrete below me and I woke up around what appeared to be a loving temple. Ashes laid around me and I felt delight feeling that these were lives taken. Until I stumbled upon two majestic creatures...The Brothers.
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Ruby: *eyes widened* The Brothers...
Oscar: He was there...the day Humanity all died...He was there...
Everyone looked at each other with an uncertain amount of fear. If Grimm were to be nearby, it would be a swarm of them right now. To know that perhaps the most dangerous man to walk their world and their universe was transported to the day First Humanity died...
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The Master: I saw both dragons and I got their attention. The God of Light and The God of Darkness. And I must say Doctor, as the story goes between them; Ours isn't as different from theirs. Two Superior beings going at it: One that brings Goodness, Hope, Kindness, and the other brings Evil, Chaos, Death...that is Us. And that is also the Brothers.
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All this heavy info was starting to affect the people watching as they now felt that who was right in front of them was truly the Brothers Gods going at it in a game of chess. Even our Remnant heroes felt that heavy weight land upon them.
Jaune: I feel like I'm gonna be sick...
Ruby: Oscar...tell me if Ozpin is still in there to say something about all of this...
Oscar: He...He has no words...about this...
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The Doctor: Maybe we have similarities to them, same motives, same perspective. But we are not Gods. And we are not Masters either. As I recall, you were turned into a Cat. And I assume this is where we get to it.
The Master: Snarky. Takes the fun out for me. They saw me, they were confused as to how someone else survived what was the first extinction of Humanity until they sensed that I was not one of them but something more. I gladly introduced myself and where I was from. I told them I was very impressed with what they just did. The God of Light looked at me with such uncertainty, but the God of Darkness took it as compliment. I told them that why should they stopped here when they can continue their reign across the universe. Their powers and my superior knowledge, imagine what we can accomplish together.
The Doctor: Even Gods see you as a psycho. Don't you think that's a new low for you? *Steals another piece*
The Master: Mmmm. *breathes* They were a fool not to take me seriously. I told them everything, all of the knowledge of time and space, and what they can do if we just worked together. The God of Darkness simply scoffed away my idea as if I was bluffing while the God of Light only remained silent. I took it as an insult, a disrespect to who I am, and so I did what I usually do, Kill them! But it would only seem that my Tissue Compression Device were only little stings for the Gods and the next thing I knew...it all went black.
The Doctor: A fate worse than death. They knew very well what you are capable of with that mind of yours.
The Master: Torture, Doctor. It was torture! All I remember was waking up in the sand, feeling different. I was alive and I still had everything...except for my body. I was turned...TO A DAMN CAT?! HUNDRED OF YEARS SPENT IN THAT BODY! It...It was like hearing the drums in my head. I was left with a "purpose", a pitiful, disgusting act. All until two siblings arrived to the Ever After, Alyx and Lewis. And that is where I also met the Rusty Knight, good ol' Jaune Arc. *Looks at the camera* Hello, Jaune.
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Jaune only clinched his fist as he was growing the urge to go in there and finish him off for good. The memories of the Ever After were crawling back to him with Pyrrha, Alyx, and Lewis. They flashed before his eyes as the pain of what happened to Alyx struck him again.
Weiss: Jaune...*puts my hand on his shoulder*
Jaune: *sighs* Those painful memories won't ever leave...as long as he's still around...
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The Doctor: You don't care about a single life in your eyes unless they are worthy opponents. But for you to kill a child, I thought we already saw the worst of you.
The Master: All because she found the meaning of "being good" EUGH! Such a sad and disappointing morality. But I did have the pleasure of killing her and finding my way back to Remnant, all I needed was a new body. I had it all right in front of me until the tree took it away. Alyx's body disappeared and the portal closed. I was once again trapped in that pitiful world and I knew if Jaune were to find me, he wouldn't hesitate to kill me. And so, while I waited for the next humans to arrive, I made myself an urban legend across the Ever After.
The Doctor: No surprise there. Only someone like you would go around and spread fear across an entire world just so you can feel like a king.
The Master: And it was beautiful. To see all those creatures tremble in fear and panic whenever my name was mentioned. Of course, they didn't know the Curious Cat was The Master and that's where it was more fun. They all were so scared not knowing I was right there. And then...*chuckles* Enter, Team RWBY.
The Doctor's hand twitched a bit in annoyance as The Master took another piece of the Doctor's side which brought them back to even with both sides now having 10 chess pieces on the board and 6 taken for each side.
The Master: Ahhh yes, Team RWBY. The most decorated and skilled team of huntresses I've met. Thanks to Jaune, I already knew a bit of them. They all caught my eye with their different features, their personalities, strength and weaknesses, but only two caught my eye the most: Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee.
This fueled the Doctor even more knowing well now that the Master had always been targeting Ruby and Weiss.
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Weiss: Stay calm, Doctor...
Ruby: Don't let him get into your head.
Yang: It still hurts my head that it was only a few days ago that we encountered him.
Jaune: Years for me.
Blake: Just like him...but I can't be the only one wondering why he's targeting Ruby and Weiss?
Weiss: Because we are the two that gave him the most problems in the Ever After and he returned the damage to us here...
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The Doctor: What exactly do you want with them? Haven't you done enough?
The Master: Now there's the fire in you that I've seen many times! Ruby and Weiss, A girl with no home and a girl that lost her home. One with a gift and the other with a curse. One that can easily put the Grimm to extinct and the other to control time. And yet, it was them who I faced the most during our time in the Ever After. Both were truly a pain in the ass.
The Doctor: That's what happens you face the most incredible girls that have made an impact on Remnant just like everyone else. The four have something special that I have seen, and it grows even bigger when they do it together. Isn't that how you lost to them? *Steals a chess piece*
The Master: They may have beaten me, but I am the one with the last laugh. After all, there is always cause and effects.
The Doctor: What do you mean?
The Master: The ultimate secret to the history of Remnant. The last 35 years and it's inside my head. What were simply 72 hours for those girls was decades for me. Enough time to plan things out and pull the execution.
The Doctor: You didn't...
The Master: *cackles* YES! YES! I did, Doctor! I have created the history of Remnant into fixed time points! Oh, such a satisfying moment when your face turns into that of shock and horror! And it's all thanks to Team RWBY and Jaune.
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The Doctor had his realization hit him before looking over to the camera then looking back at the Master. The others watching all looked at the Ever After heroes as they were worried about what the Master was referring to until Blake was the first point it out, raising hell and fear among everyone...
Blake: What did we just do?...
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The Master: The human mind can be such a gift yet it depends on who it ends up with. Some can do the most amazing things such as nuclear weapons, chaos, power, pride, or even the smallest things such as telling the tale of Remnant. Humans can be such naive, inferior beings and that is what your friends did. Poor Jaune dealing with the pressure of all the deaths and defeats that have occurred in his own eyes, Weiss struck with the entire fall of Atlas and not just the kingdom but everything that occurred within, and Ruby...Oh, my dear Ruby Rose-
The Doctor: You don't get to say her name! Neither of them!
The Master: *chuckles* You see, Doctor. This is why I say we are the embodiment of the Brothers Gods. You have done so much good to these people that you have given them the concept of hope. You make them believe that there will be a future after all for Remnant. But all you have been doing is cleaning up the mess I have left for you and your friends. I didn't just come to Remnant, kill a boy, take his body, and just waited in the dark. Where's the fun in that? Hmm? You see, thanks to Team RWBY and Jaune during our little time in the Ever After, they told me everything that have happened during their life and guess who made it happen.
The Master cackled as the Doctor looked at him in horror at the sudden realization. The others watched as well and Team RWBY and Jaune now have realized that all that has happened...was because of one simple mistake.
They told the Master and he made sure it still happened...
The Master: I love a good disguise. Multiple if they truly suit me and no one recognized me one bit. That was the fun of being Arthur Watts, he was a no one in the start before he became the most wanted mad scientist. THAT was my disguise, and I have been everywhere, planning and accomplishing the events that your friends have told me.
The Doctor: You...played with history...and made it into your own pleasure!
The Master: Do you know who encouraged Jacques Schnee to marry Willow for the Schnee name? Me!
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Gasps were heard all over as the Schnee family all froze in complete horror at the sudden revelation of The Master. He was the one that brought the monster into their lives...
The Master: Awwww. I guess the Schnee children are horrified to know that Frankenstein's monster was sent to them by Frankenstein himself!
There was not a single word from either of the Schnee family but their expressions said it all: Whitley dreading in fear, Winter fueled up in rage, Willow with a disappointed expression, and Weiss...with a murderous look on her face...
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The Master: And THAT was just the beginning...
The Doctor: Stop it. STOP IT NOW!
The Master: Poor Ozpin! Lost and defeated as Salem grew, he found the fate of Amber, the Fall Maiden that was slowly dying because of Cinder Fall. He didn't know what to do until a unrecognized professor suggested to him a warrior girl from Argus.
It was now Jaune, Ren, Oscar, and Nora all freezing in complete horror as The Master explained his next plan with Jaune clutching his fist in anger...
The Master: I told Ozpin that I knew someone capable of being the next Fall Maiden...and her name...was Pyrrha Nikos. *Cackles more* And we know very well how history went afterwards for poor Pyrrha.
The Doctor: You...You did all of this...You're the one responsible for her death.
The Master: All thanks to Jaune for telling me about his...passed love.
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Yang: This...Monster!
Ruby: *looks at Oscar* Oscar? Talk to us! Oscar!
Ozpin: What...have I...done?...
Jaune: He should be dead...HE NEEDS TO BE DEAD! I COULD'VE KILLED HIM! I'LL DO IT NOW!
Blake: JAUNE STOP!
Willow commanded a few soldiers to keep a hold of Jaune from going down and doing something reckless that could kill him. Everyone now feared what else this monster has done beneath the shadows. All those times they looked at the good that the Doctor has done just to be overshadowed by the tragedies created by the Master. And no one else feels the guilt, fear, and rage more than Team RWBY and Jaune.
The Master: You know what happened on that same day as Pyrrha's demise? The Fall of Beacon and who else could have orchestrated better than Me! I was the one that shut down the communications and access to help the city but then YOU got in the way with your "heroic" speech that nearly ruined it all. You know what I did do personally? I convinced the leader of the White Fang, Adam Taurus to attack because I told him that his precious prize was there. I am the cause of what happened to Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long on that very fateful night.
The Doctor was already having a shocked and pissed off expression but he needed to remain calm cause the one thing The Master wants is to see him break and he wasn't giving it. But to hear all of those events happen because of the most evil Time Lord to ever exist was leaving a fatal mark on the Doctor.
Blake felt herself trembled unlike before and nearly stumbled until Sora helped her up. Yang looked at her prosthetic arm then at the Master with her eyes slowly turning red in fury. She wasn't the only one in fury...
For Ruby, Weiss, Qrow, Raven, and even Sora all had rage burning up inside.
But the Master wasn't done yet. He still had the best saved for last.
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The Master: Still not breaking hmm? Impressive. I thought those events that affect your dear friends would affect you as well. Of course, you already know how it went in Atlas. Another mark hit to your fiancé. My finest work yet, receiving the help and funds by Jacques, hacking the Election, hacking Penny, frying the system of Atlas to fall and crumble, and finally facing you.
The Doctor: It was very familiar and almost clear, the way you reacted when we faced off. Only The Master would be pleased to come face to face with the Doctor. You are right about one certain thing, *takes another chess piece* Our story is as old as time. And here's the reality Master, you won't be able to break me. You have gone beyond limits, changing history and making it to your own pleasure but as long as I'm here, as long as I'm alive, you will not be able to change history once again. Here, Now, this is between you and me and I will stop you.
The Master: *smirks then scoffs* Well played, Doctor. As usual. This is no surprise for you, yet I must admit that this incarnation of yourself is the most hard-headed that can't easily crack like your past selves. *shrugs* Caught me there. But if I can't break you, *looks at the camera* I'm already doing enough breaking them. And I am not done just yet.
The Doctor: *eyes widened* You didn't...
The Master: Oh, I did. You see, in the Ever After I saw how fragile Ruby Rose was. How weakened, small, depressed, defeated she felt. Did you know she actually attempted to end herself?
The Doctor: What?...
The Master: She said it very well that she did not want to be herself anymore. I offered her a chance to give her life and body to me, a new body insisted she took the route to end it all. Oooooh but all the things she has told me before any of that happened. I just...couldn't resist not participating.
The Doctor: WILLOW! CUT THE FEED NOW!
The Master: I made sure those five wretched kids would regret messing with me. They thought they killed me, but I CAN NEVER DIE! *chuckles* And so, one by one, I made sure those moments that broke them STAYS that way. Why do you think I valued Penny Polendina so much that I actually saved her. I know what she meant for Ruby and I made sure those events would follow.
The Doctor: You converted Penny into a Cyberman! You took away someone's chance of being human, of being free, of getting an actual chance to live a life! You didn't just take that away from Ruby, you also took it away from Pietro!
The Master: Twice!
Everything fell silent as even the Doctor was silenced by this sudden confession by The Master while he only smirked at seeing the Doctor's horrified face.
The Master: The horrific accident that occurred on the mountain side of Atlas where the original Penny and her parents fell from the cliff, crashing into such a deep territory. It left Pietro paralyzed but I got the job done in taking the life of his daughter and wife.
The Doctor was gutted, scarred, and angry...Everyone else couldn't even say a word or react. Only Ruby clenched her Crescent Rose at hearing the confession by the Master that he had been watching and hurting Penny all her life.
The Master: What was simply a horrific accident during the Vytal Festival during her fight against Pyrrha was in fact, me upgrading Penny's swords to end her. Just like how I took over her during Atlas, JUST LIKE HOW I CONVERTED HER INTO A CYBERMAN! *laughs* I RUINED PENNY POLENDINA ALL HER LIFE!
The Doctor: You-
The Master: Just like I ruined Ruby Rose's life by taking away the most important person in her life that she never got the chance to spend with. And I do hope you are listening, Ruby Rose.
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Willow: Call them in! Get him restraint and take him to his cell! NOW!
The soldiers made their run for it to silence the Master as this was too much and too heavy for everyone to take.
Yang: Ruby! Look away, ignore anything he says now!
Willow: Take Miss Rose out of headquarters!
Weiss: Ruby! Come on!
Dalek Khan: CUT THE FEED!
Whitley: We're trying but something is blocking it.
Jaune: *glares at the screen* Him...
The Master: And I do hope you are listening, Ruby Rose.
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The Master: I have been the one behind all those horrific events, all those deaths, but none I am proud of more...then being the one that led Summer Rose To. Her. DEATH!