Post by Fitz Kreiner on Dec 13, 2010 23:00:21 GMT
Sergeant Lovatt walked into the garage carrying two steaming mugs of tea. She paused when she looked around and found that Tom was nowhere to be seen. Breathing in, Lovatt was about to call out his name when she realised that there some something wrong in the garage. It didn’t take her long to realise that there was a car missing. That was odd for a start; Tom never drove, although she didn’t know whether he could or not, it wasn’t in his style to drive off in a car. She hadn’t been gone long enough for someone else to have come down and taken a car either.
Turning and walking out of the garage, Lovatt walked down the corridor to the log book. There was no record of anyone signing out any of the cars for the afternoon and no one else had been about near the garages when she had gone to make the tea. Placing the mugs down, Lovatt decided to go and find out what exactly was going on.
The HQ was strangely deserted these days and Lovatt wouldn’t be surprised if it continued this way with what Ashfield and Duncan were doing to UNIT and as such, she saw no one on her way to the operations room on the second floor. Entering the operations room, only Corporal Loding was on duty, looking up when she entered.
“Is Captain Morris about?” Lovatt asked, taking a quick scan of the room.
“I think he’s in his office,” Loding replied. “He had a phone call from General Bailey.”
“Thanks,” Lovatt said, making to turn round and leave the operations room before stopping as Morris walked in, a troubled look on his face. “Ah, sir,” she said moments before the two collided.
“Sergeant,” Morris said, stepping back and checking that he hadn’t dropped any of the files he was carrying. “What can I do for you?” he asked as he took a seat at his desk.
“I’m not sure, sir,” Lovatt replied, rubbing her top lip thoughtfully. “It might be nothing, but I thought I’d mention it.”
“I’m not in the mood for riddles, Sergeant,” Morris sighed. “Don’t beat around the bush, spit it out.”
“I just ran into Tom down in the garage,” Lovatt continued. “He seemed to be acting rather odd and, well, I popped out to get a cuppa, and when I got back he’d disappeared and one of the cars had gone as well.”
Morris’s head snapped up, a frown on his face. “Was he alone?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Lovatt said, a look of confusion crossing her face. “Was he not meant to be?”
“He wasn’t when I last saw him,” Morris said softly. “He had a civilian, a girl, with him. She wasn’t lurking around the garage was she?”
“I didn’t spot anyone, sir,” Lovatt said, suddenly feeling conspicuous.
“You sure?” Morris asked standing up.
“Positive,” Lovatt replied. “There was just him.”
Morris paused and swallowed as he thought about how to say what he was about to. “Now, this might seem somewhat odd,” he started, rubbing his top lip. “I want you to tell your units; if Tom’s behaviour in front of them seems somewhat odd, or he starts asking too many questions, to report it to you immediately, and then report it on to me.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Lovatt said, screwing up her face, “but are you telling us to spy on him?”
“That’s precisely what I’m telling you, Sergeant,” Morris said. “Report back to me his movements and anyone you see him talking to.”
“I don’t like this, sir,” Loding said, getting to her feet the other side of the room.
“I’m not asking you to like it, Corporal,” Morris said, dropping his head slightly and breathing in deeply. “I don’t like it myself if I’m honest, but I’ve been given the order. Does he use the lab phone to dial out much?”
“I’m not sure,” Loding replied. “I’ll have to check it. Why?”
“Because if he does use it, I want a tap put in on it,” Morris said, his voice becoming more resigned.
“You’ve had orders?” Lovatt asked. “I’m assuming from Sir Daniel?”
“You know I can’t discuss that, Sergeant,” Morris replied looking up, a steely look in his green eyes. “The fact of the matter is, I’m now giving you an order, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t question it.”
“Sir,” Lovatt said, snapping to attention.
“That’ll be all, Sergeant,” Morris said, dismissing her and sitting down. “And Corporal?”
“Yes sir?” Loding asked, stepping round her desk.
“Why are you still here? I thought I told you to put a tap on Tom’s phone.”
“Yes sir,” Loding replied, before following Lovatt out of the room.
Waiting until his two subordinates were out of the office, Morris got to his feet and crossed to the door, closing it after checking the corridor and then walked over to the window and looked out. The cold, grey December afternoon was rolling on. The crispness and frost of the morning had dissipated and now a light drizzle was falling. Below him, on the streets of Camden, he could see shoppers bustle back and forth, some with umbrellas, some getting wet. He almost envied them, despite his being no doubt warmer and drier; they didn’t have to worry much about all the red tape or political nonsense he was being dragged into.
Not for the first time Morris found himself wishing that the Doctor would appear, although he got the distinct impression that if he did, he would be ordered to investigate him too. That wasn’t something that Morris would be pleased to do. He’d read many reports about the Doctor, and he didn’t think that it would be wise to piss off the best friend that the planet has ever had any more than he had done over the Colesham incident. Morris still regretted how he had handled that, although he was still adamant that he’d done right in calling the RAF to destroy the Klil-Raäth ship before they killed millions of innocent people.
Sighing to himself, Morris turned and returned to his desk. He had this report to write, the first of possibly many, for Sir Daniel. What made the matter worse was that he had initiated the investigation himself and now had to deny all responsibility lest he wanted to be investigated himself.
Kelly felt hugely uncomfortable. She was driving a car she knew that she would never be able to afford through the centre of London, past numerous police cars. Each time she approached one, she had the horrible thought that they would pull her over and question her for driving the car. Her passenger had descended into silence since they had set off, other than some directions.
“It’s just up here,” Tom said, suddenly, pointing at a large gated drive just off to the left up ahead. “Just pull into the side; I won’t be long, promise.”
“Why can’t I come with you?” Kelly asked. “Who are you going to see?”
“Believe me, I’d love to have some company here, some moral support, but it’s something I have to do myself,” Tom replied. “I’m going to have a word with the Master.”
“Whoa, hang on there, dude,” Kelly said, spinning in her seat and gripping hold of Tom’s sleeve. “That’s the dude you said tried to kill you, yeah.”
“Yeah,” Tom replied. “This time, he’s a prisoner, and if he tries to do anything, he gets a tazer baton in the back. End of problem.”
“No, I don’t like it,” Kelly said, tightening the grip she had on Tom’s sleeve.
“Trust me,” Tom replied with a slight smile which didn’t cause any change in Kelly’s expression.
“So, what am I supposed to do while you’re being threatened in there?” Kelly asked, finally loosening her grip. “Just sit here and twiddle my thumbs? Bollocks to that, I wanna come with you if you’re gonna do this.”
Tom sighed and screwed his eyes as a wave of pain lanced through his head before clearing. “Look,” he said finally, “I appreciate that, but trust me; the governor here is a total arse, the Master is not someone you want in your head, and well, please, just trust me. After this, I promise I’ll make it up to you.” Tom paused as he studied Kelly’s reactions. “Please?” he added after several seconds.
“What if I get pulled up by the cops?” Kelly asked. “I don’t have one of those fancy cards that Jess had.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tom replied. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Sure?”
“Hey, if I’m more than an hour, you get to pick what the make-up price is,” Tom said over his shoulder before he closed the door and dashed across the road.
“I thought I asked you to ring ahead before coming here?” Crompton asked as he leant back in his desk chair.
“Yeah, well it was last minute,” Tom replied as he continued to pace the office in an agitated manner. “If I could call ahead and say that I was going to make an unexpected, unplanned visit, but that’s the thing about the unexpected.”
“You are aware, Mr. Rowan,” Crompton said, making a point of looking at the wall clock, “that it is four o’clock; visiting time for the prisoner is over.”
“I am, and you are aware of my standing as a UNIT operative?” Tom replied turning to make for the door.
“And you are aware of my disapproval of this unprecedented breach of your rights and limits as a visitor to my institute,” Crompton retorted, leaning back in his chair further.
“Yeah, well, take it up with Captain Morris,” Tom said, walking out of the office.
Closing the door behind him with a slam, Tom glanced over his shoulder with a sneer. He hated having to visit Crompton every time he came to see the Master. The man seemed to do everything he could to wind him up and make him jump through as many hoops as possible. Something about the man caused alarm bells to ring in his head, similar bells to those that rang whenever he thought about James Duncan.
Trying to push these thoughts and worries out of his head, Tom screwed his eyes and leant against the wall briefly as another spear of pain lanced behind his eyes. The headaches seemed to be getting worse. If the Doctor was here, Tom would have sought his help, as it was, he only had the Master to turn to in relation to Time Lord maladies. And that was something that he didn’t want; the Master in his head.
Looking up, Tom swallowed hard as he saw the mid-way security office ahead of him. He’d arrived quicker than he’d realised. Twice in one day, this was fast showing signs of becoming a bad habit in turning to the Master for help.
The Master looked up as the lock of his cell door clicked and the door itself slid open on the electronic mechanism. This was most irregular. He checked the clock on the wall and saw that it was now five past four in the afternoon. This was most irregular, he was allowed visitors after three PM and his expected visitor wasn’t due until tomorrow.
Swinging his feet off his bunk, the Master sat up and fastened the top button of the high collared white institution shirt he was wearing. Getting to his feet he stood in the centre of his cell and watched the door and waited. He could hear the heavy footfalls on the metal grating that lined the floor of the concrete corridor. The footfalls were too loud and heavy to be the cheap faux-leather shoes that the imbecile Crompton wore. Indeed, they were more like the Cuban-heeled cowboy boots that Mr. Rowan had worn when he visited him earlier in the day.
He got his answer when the leather trench-coated figure appeared in the doorway, the bottom of the coat flapping round his ankles as he turned to look into the room.
“Ah, Mr. Rowan,” the Master smiled stepping back and gesturing to a chair. “Please sit down. This is indeed a pleasure; two visits in one day, I am honoured.”
“Can the niceties,” Tom almost growled as he gripped the back of the chair the Master had indicated. “I’m not here to pass the time of day, I’m here for information.”
“Ah, much like your last visit?” the Master smiled taking a seat himself. “Do please sit down, Mr. Rowan, don’t feel the need to stand on ceremony.”
“Oh, I don’t, don’t worry,” Tom replied stepping back from the chair and purposefully making a point to stay standing.
“If you insist,” the Master said, reaching across for the brandy decanter. “Would you care for a drink?”
“I said can the niceties,” Tom repeated. “You said that Elizabeth should be the current monarch, so what do you know about Duncan?”
“My, we are hostile towards me this afternoon,” the Master said affecting a mock hurt tone.
“Yeah, well, forgive me if considering our past meetings hasn’t painted you in the best light to me.”
“Ah, ah,” the Master said wagging a finger at Tom, “past meeting, singular. Don’t forget your first meeting with me I haven’t experienced yet. I can’t know too much about what will happen now, can I?”
Tom scowled. “Are you just talking about your personal future or now?” he asked.
“Which do you think, Mr Rowan?” the Master retorted with a smile.
“I’m not in the mood for your games,” Tom almost snapped back.
“My, my,” the Master replied, almost sounding genuinely shocked at Tom’s outburst. “You may follow the Doctor’s noble crusade, but you do have a different approach than he does.”
“Yeah, well, you just push my buttons, alright?” Tom said with a scowl.
“Well, I do apologise,” the Master replied with a smile. “Now, what is it you want to know, and I’ll see if I can oblige.”
Tom narrowed his eyes and took a cautious step backwards. “Alright then, can I trust you?”
“You can, or you can disbelieve everything I say,” the Master replied flatly. “Yes, I’ve spent years clashing with the Doctor, yes, I’ve tried to destroy this miserable planet and yes, I’ve lead various alien races to this planet to try to help them conquer it. But am I always lying? No. Mr. Rowan, believe it or not, I do tell the truth a lot; I’m honest in my attempts. This has nothing whatsoever to do with me, and believe it or not, I’m rather intrigued by these events as you.”
“Hmn,” Tom replied, narrowing his eyes again. “I don’t know,” he said.
“Oh, Mr. Rowan,” the Master said before taking a sip of brandy. “The future has a way of arriving unannounced. Not even we Time Lords can always see what is just around our own personal corners. Sometimes we can tell that something is coming, or foresee something, but other times, our eyes are closed to the bigger picture.”
“What are you talking about?” Tom replied, finally sitting down.
“Mr. Rowan,” the Master said, sitting so he was more comfortable, “you are young and have a lot to learn. I however, have been around for considerably longer. I’ve seen things you could only imagine. People believe what their minds tell them to believe, what they see doesn’t always come into it. We can blind people to the obvious, and the closer they are to that fact, the less likely they may be able to see it.”
Whilst the Master has been talking, Tom’s face twisted into even more of a scowl before he slammed his fist down on the table, cutting the Master off and causing the glasses and decanter to rattle. “Will you stop talking in bloody riddles?” he yelled.
“Mr. Rowan,” the Master continued, “if you would just calm down and listen, you may very well understand.”
“Just cut the crap, Master,” Tom said, before wincing at using the Master’s name. “Tell me flat out.”
“I’d have thought that was obvious.”
Tom merely raised his eyebrow, which the Master ignored.
“This Mr. Duncan has fascinated me,” the older Time Lord continued. “He appears to have won the support from the whole country without doing anything, other than clearing up after you, the Doctor and the delightful Miss. Lawton halted my last plan and subtly organising things so that he has complete control over the police and the armed forces.”
“At the very least,” Tom replied before double taking. “What did you say?”
“That our Mr. Duncan has taken control over the police and armed forces,” the Master repeated. “I believe they would say that it is the formation of a dictatorship or police state, if he had any sway over the government or prime minister. But then, he does have his little friend in the cabinet, doesn’t he?”
“How the hell do you know all this?” Tom replied, his mouth agape. “I never told you about the police and army thing. I only found out myself recently. And what’s this friend thing he’s got going on in the government?”
“Well, I’d have thought that was obvious, Mr. Rowan,” the Master explained. “It would make sense for him to take control over the law enforcement agencies. Wasn’t he made the head of the police back in September?”
“Ok, I’ll give you that one,” Tom replied. “But you seem to know more about this than you’re letting on.”
“You forget, I’m a Time Lord,” the Master replied. “We have that ability to see more than is just going on under the surface.”
“Well, you seem to be seeing stuff that I don’t,” Tom said. “Care to tell me what that is?”
“Simple,” the Master said, spreading his hands. “You have to know a bit of the history of the British parliaments and monarchs. To cut the story short; in the early 1700s, the parliament at the time passed a legislation that only allowed descendents of Elizabeth Stuart, the daughter of James the first to ascend to the throne. Now, I’m sure you know that Elizabeth the first and James the first were related, but not that closely; second cousins, if memory serves. So, due to this parliamentary legislation dating back about three hundred years, our Mr. Duncan would not have been able to ascend to the throne. However, as he is, it therefore stands to reason that he has contacts within the government who were able to repeal this legislation, thus allowing him to become the next monarch. So much so, that it gives him a stronger claim to the British throne that the current Elizabeth. Are you still with me?”
Tom looked at the Master for several seconds before replied. Before speaking he stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Is that all true or are you talking nonsense, trying to cover up for you knowing something I don’t?”
“Mr. Rowan, you could pick up a book from any local library and find out exactly what I just told you for yourself,” the Master replied taking a sip from his brandy. “Minus, of course, the latest bit, which I doubt they’ll have had time to write down and publish, even in this day and age. You just have to know where to look. I’m sure that even if Mr. Duncan is marching down this country to dictatorship or police state, as they seem to be with clamping down on your investigation, I think someone would have noticed if they were removing information from the public libraries.”
“Ok, I accept that,” Tom replied, “it sounds logical enough.”
“As I said, Mr. Rowan,” the Master said, “people will only see what their eyes want them to see and what their brain tells their eyes to see. If they don’t want to want to see it, their mind will block it out. And that works for everyone,” he added looking pointedly at Tom.
“And what does that mean?” Tom asked coldly, leaning forwards.
“It simply means, Mr. Rowan, that one should keep their mind and eyes open,” the Master said sitting back. “I do trust I’ve been of use to you, only I imagine that Governor Crompton is near to bursting a blood vessel with you in here until this time.”
“Not the subtlest thing you’ve said this afternoon,” Tom replied. “In fact I’d go as far as to say that was the easiest to understand thing you’ve said, and probably the most honest.”
“Like I said earlier, Mr. Rowan,” the Master smiled settling back in his chair, “I’m open and honest about my intent. I never deny my plans or ambitions.”
“Fair enough,” Tom said getting to his feet. “If that’s the way you want to play it.”
“Mr. Rowan, the only game I’m playing at the moment, is yours,” the Master smiled.
“Yeah,” Tom said as he reached the door. “You keep saying that, one day someone will believe you.”
“One day, you will too, Mr. Rowan, you’ll have to,” the Master retorted. “Have I ever said that I was planning something and not attempted it?”
Tom paused at the door as he thought over that. In his two previous dealings with the Master, he had been honest about his plans, as evil and twisted as they were. That was certainly true, and it was one of the unsettling things about the man, he would tell you he was about to try and kill you before he then tried that. “Ok, I’ll believe you,” he said finally.
“You don’t sound too convinced, Mr. Rowan,” the Master said. “Think on it.”
Tom paused for several more seconds at the door, staring at the Master before he turned on his heel and marching down the corridor.
“You’d better start believing me soon,” the Master said slightly louder, “you’re overlooking a lot of things yourself, even I can see it; something is coming.”
Kelly felt uncomfortable. There was a certain something that was bugging her. It wasn’t that she was sat in a car that she had ‘borrowed’ from the garage of a secret military organisation with a, frankly, rather gorgeous man who claimed to be an alien and was now sat outside a maximum security prison containing another dangerous alien. There was something else.
Looking in the rear-view mirror, it suddenly hit her. The road had been pretty quiet since she’d been sat there waiting for Tom, only a few cars had gone past. Yet the car in the rear-view mirror was scarily familiar. Her eyes widening, she suddenly realised why it was so familiar; the vast majority of the cars which had gone past were all one colour; red. Not only that, they were also the same make; Citroën. Normally, Kelly wasn’t one to spot cars, they were just a means of getting from A to B for her, although despite this, she was able to recognise a good quality car when she saw one, and the one she was currently in certainly was.
Taking another look in the rear-view mirror, she looked closer at the only other car parked nearby. She had vaguely been aware of the car drawing up some distance behind her some time ago yet she hadn’t remembered seeing anyone get out of it. Sure enough, she could make out a figure sat behind the wheel of the Citroën. Peering closer at the mirror, Kelly tried to make out the figure. She couldn’t see much of them, but they certainly looked suspicious, it was certainly not the weather to be wearing dark glasses, as it seemed this person seemed to be.
Curious about this, Kelly opened the car door and got out. Making sure she had the keys on her, so someone didn’t steal the car from under her nose, she shut the driver’s door and turned to the suspicious car. As she made closer, she could begin to make out more of the mysterious person behind the wheel. They looked rather slight and we wearing dark glasses and a headscarf. They were definitely female, and they were watching her. Or the institute, she wasn’t sure, but she got the distinct feeling that they were now looking right at her.
Pulling her coat round her closer, she decided to confront this person. It was only when she was reaching the car that was parked between her and the red Citroën that she realised the mysterious driver had turned the engine on. With a growl of the motor and a slight screech of the tyres, the red Citroën swung out of its parking space and headed straight for Kelly. Her eyes widened when she saw it, the realisation hitting her instantly; the driver was attempting to knock her over.
With a speed that surprised her, Kelly jumped out of the way, hitting the bonnet of the silver car beside her with a painful bump. She slid off and landed awkwardly on the wet road in a heap as the car sped off.
Her heart pounding loudly in her chest, she looked up, her hair splayed over her face, her eyes wide. Scrambling to her feet, Kelly looked down the road in the direction that the red car had taken. She could just see it turning a corner, some distance away. Looking down at her hands, she saw that she was shaking. It was hardly surprising really. As cute as this Tom was, she wasn’t game for insane women driving at her trying to kill her and she was going to tell him that.
Making a careful point of checking the traffic, Kelly crossed the road and reached the gates to the institute. The high wrought iron gates were closed and locked, electronically it appeared. There was a small terminal set into one of the gateposts and what looked like a small security office just inside. She couldn’t be sure, but the small office seemed as though it was made from a rather heavy metal with thick green-tinted glass. She couldn’t see anyone inside.
Kelly was reaching for the buzzer on the intercom which was set into the gatepost when she saw a figure marching down the drive to the gate. The long trench coat billowing out behind him and the hat gave him away long before she saw his features. When she was sure that he could see her, she made a point of waving to him, and he returned the wave, before nodding in the direction of the security office. With a heavy clunk, the gates started to swing open, inwards.
Fighting the urge to run to him, Kelly stayed where she was stood and waited, her arms folded. She tried desperately to get an indignant look on her face, but she was sure that she was still looking more shocked over the incident with the car than anything. The expression on Tom’s face soon melted what little remained of her resentment; he was looking intensely troubled and rather worried. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of shock over the car incident.
Toms gaze still seemed rather absent until he was stood outside the gate and next to her. “I thought I said to stay in the-?” he started before noting the look on Kelly’s face. “What happened?”
Unable to manage the straight face any longer, Kelly flung her arms around Tom and hung on tight, her legs suddenly feeling weak.
“Ok, erm,” he stammered.
“I was being watched,” Kelly finally managed, “some crazy pregnant dog in dark glasses. She drove past me several times then pulled up behind. When I got out to confront her, the mad cow drove at me; tried to kill me.”
“Hey, hey,” Tom said, gently stroking a hand down her hair to sooth her. “It’s alright.”
“No, it’s not bloody alright,” Kelly said, stepping back and looking at him, the fury back in her eyes. “I’m not used to crazy pregnant doges trying to kill me. I’m not used to anybody trying to kill me, alright?”
“No, I understand,” Tom said, softly, looking into her eyes. “It’s not something that one comes into easily.”
Looking back into Tom’s eyes, she found herself almost relaxing again, her anger subsiding easily. “What about you?” she asked.
“Usual Master crap,” Tom said. “He said he was telling the truth, but then again, he said that, so it’s whether you can trust that.”
“Can you?”
“I dunno,” Tom shrugged, sitting down on the curb. “He said that he’s honest in his intent, and he is that; he’s never denied his ambitions to conquer or destroy Earth, or bend the minds of others to his will. So I guess he is honest in that way.”
Getting the feeling that they were going to be here for a while, Kelly arranged her coat so that she could sit down next to him.
“He’s been honest, but for the wrong reasons, I guess,” Tom continued. “He said that Duncan intrigues him, and I believe him on that. But he was being hugely cryptic about it all. He seems to enjoy talking in riddles. So I guess that he does tell the truth, but in such a way that you can’t understand it.”
“A bit like you then, sometimes,” Kelly said.
“A bit like the Doctor too,” Tom countered. “I guess it must be a Time Lord thing then.”
“So, what now then?” Kelly asked.
“Now, we need to pop to a library or something and then,” Tom said clapping his hands and getting to his feet, “Am I taking you out for a meal or something? I believe I owe you for driving me here, and I think you could do with something less car being driven at you.”
Kelly looked up into Tom’s ice blue eyes and smiled. “I know a very nice place that does good food,” she smiled.
Turning and walking out of the garage, Lovatt walked down the corridor to the log book. There was no record of anyone signing out any of the cars for the afternoon and no one else had been about near the garages when she had gone to make the tea. Placing the mugs down, Lovatt decided to go and find out what exactly was going on.
The HQ was strangely deserted these days and Lovatt wouldn’t be surprised if it continued this way with what Ashfield and Duncan were doing to UNIT and as such, she saw no one on her way to the operations room on the second floor. Entering the operations room, only Corporal Loding was on duty, looking up when she entered.
“Is Captain Morris about?” Lovatt asked, taking a quick scan of the room.
“I think he’s in his office,” Loding replied. “He had a phone call from General Bailey.”
“Thanks,” Lovatt said, making to turn round and leave the operations room before stopping as Morris walked in, a troubled look on his face. “Ah, sir,” she said moments before the two collided.
“Sergeant,” Morris said, stepping back and checking that he hadn’t dropped any of the files he was carrying. “What can I do for you?” he asked as he took a seat at his desk.
“I’m not sure, sir,” Lovatt replied, rubbing her top lip thoughtfully. “It might be nothing, but I thought I’d mention it.”
“I’m not in the mood for riddles, Sergeant,” Morris sighed. “Don’t beat around the bush, spit it out.”
“I just ran into Tom down in the garage,” Lovatt continued. “He seemed to be acting rather odd and, well, I popped out to get a cuppa, and when I got back he’d disappeared and one of the cars had gone as well.”
Morris’s head snapped up, a frown on his face. “Was he alone?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Lovatt said, a look of confusion crossing her face. “Was he not meant to be?”
“He wasn’t when I last saw him,” Morris said softly. “He had a civilian, a girl, with him. She wasn’t lurking around the garage was she?”
“I didn’t spot anyone, sir,” Lovatt said, suddenly feeling conspicuous.
“You sure?” Morris asked standing up.
“Positive,” Lovatt replied. “There was just him.”
Morris paused and swallowed as he thought about how to say what he was about to. “Now, this might seem somewhat odd,” he started, rubbing his top lip. “I want you to tell your units; if Tom’s behaviour in front of them seems somewhat odd, or he starts asking too many questions, to report it to you immediately, and then report it on to me.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Lovatt said, screwing up her face, “but are you telling us to spy on him?”
“That’s precisely what I’m telling you, Sergeant,” Morris said. “Report back to me his movements and anyone you see him talking to.”
“I don’t like this, sir,” Loding said, getting to her feet the other side of the room.
“I’m not asking you to like it, Corporal,” Morris said, dropping his head slightly and breathing in deeply. “I don’t like it myself if I’m honest, but I’ve been given the order. Does he use the lab phone to dial out much?”
“I’m not sure,” Loding replied. “I’ll have to check it. Why?”
“Because if he does use it, I want a tap put in on it,” Morris said, his voice becoming more resigned.
“You’ve had orders?” Lovatt asked. “I’m assuming from Sir Daniel?”
“You know I can’t discuss that, Sergeant,” Morris replied looking up, a steely look in his green eyes. “The fact of the matter is, I’m now giving you an order, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t question it.”
“Sir,” Lovatt said, snapping to attention.
“That’ll be all, Sergeant,” Morris said, dismissing her and sitting down. “And Corporal?”
“Yes sir?” Loding asked, stepping round her desk.
“Why are you still here? I thought I told you to put a tap on Tom’s phone.”
“Yes sir,” Loding replied, before following Lovatt out of the room.
Waiting until his two subordinates were out of the office, Morris got to his feet and crossed to the door, closing it after checking the corridor and then walked over to the window and looked out. The cold, grey December afternoon was rolling on. The crispness and frost of the morning had dissipated and now a light drizzle was falling. Below him, on the streets of Camden, he could see shoppers bustle back and forth, some with umbrellas, some getting wet. He almost envied them, despite his being no doubt warmer and drier; they didn’t have to worry much about all the red tape or political nonsense he was being dragged into.
Not for the first time Morris found himself wishing that the Doctor would appear, although he got the distinct impression that if he did, he would be ordered to investigate him too. That wasn’t something that Morris would be pleased to do. He’d read many reports about the Doctor, and he didn’t think that it would be wise to piss off the best friend that the planet has ever had any more than he had done over the Colesham incident. Morris still regretted how he had handled that, although he was still adamant that he’d done right in calling the RAF to destroy the Klil-Raäth ship before they killed millions of innocent people.
Sighing to himself, Morris turned and returned to his desk. He had this report to write, the first of possibly many, for Sir Daniel. What made the matter worse was that he had initiated the investigation himself and now had to deny all responsibility lest he wanted to be investigated himself.
*
Kelly felt hugely uncomfortable. She was driving a car she knew that she would never be able to afford through the centre of London, past numerous police cars. Each time she approached one, she had the horrible thought that they would pull her over and question her for driving the car. Her passenger had descended into silence since they had set off, other than some directions.
“It’s just up here,” Tom said, suddenly, pointing at a large gated drive just off to the left up ahead. “Just pull into the side; I won’t be long, promise.”
“Why can’t I come with you?” Kelly asked. “Who are you going to see?”
“Believe me, I’d love to have some company here, some moral support, but it’s something I have to do myself,” Tom replied. “I’m going to have a word with the Master.”
“Whoa, hang on there, dude,” Kelly said, spinning in her seat and gripping hold of Tom’s sleeve. “That’s the dude you said tried to kill you, yeah.”
“Yeah,” Tom replied. “This time, he’s a prisoner, and if he tries to do anything, he gets a tazer baton in the back. End of problem.”
“No, I don’t like it,” Kelly said, tightening the grip she had on Tom’s sleeve.
“Trust me,” Tom replied with a slight smile which didn’t cause any change in Kelly’s expression.
“So, what am I supposed to do while you’re being threatened in there?” Kelly asked, finally loosening her grip. “Just sit here and twiddle my thumbs? Bollocks to that, I wanna come with you if you’re gonna do this.”
Tom sighed and screwed his eyes as a wave of pain lanced through his head before clearing. “Look,” he said finally, “I appreciate that, but trust me; the governor here is a total arse, the Master is not someone you want in your head, and well, please, just trust me. After this, I promise I’ll make it up to you.” Tom paused as he studied Kelly’s reactions. “Please?” he added after several seconds.
“What if I get pulled up by the cops?” Kelly asked. “I don’t have one of those fancy cards that Jess had.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tom replied. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Sure?”
“Hey, if I’m more than an hour, you get to pick what the make-up price is,” Tom said over his shoulder before he closed the door and dashed across the road.
*
“I thought I asked you to ring ahead before coming here?” Crompton asked as he leant back in his desk chair.
“Yeah, well it was last minute,” Tom replied as he continued to pace the office in an agitated manner. “If I could call ahead and say that I was going to make an unexpected, unplanned visit, but that’s the thing about the unexpected.”
“You are aware, Mr. Rowan,” Crompton said, making a point of looking at the wall clock, “that it is four o’clock; visiting time for the prisoner is over.”
“I am, and you are aware of my standing as a UNIT operative?” Tom replied turning to make for the door.
“And you are aware of my disapproval of this unprecedented breach of your rights and limits as a visitor to my institute,” Crompton retorted, leaning back in his chair further.
“Yeah, well, take it up with Captain Morris,” Tom said, walking out of the office.
Closing the door behind him with a slam, Tom glanced over his shoulder with a sneer. He hated having to visit Crompton every time he came to see the Master. The man seemed to do everything he could to wind him up and make him jump through as many hoops as possible. Something about the man caused alarm bells to ring in his head, similar bells to those that rang whenever he thought about James Duncan.
Trying to push these thoughts and worries out of his head, Tom screwed his eyes and leant against the wall briefly as another spear of pain lanced behind his eyes. The headaches seemed to be getting worse. If the Doctor was here, Tom would have sought his help, as it was, he only had the Master to turn to in relation to Time Lord maladies. And that was something that he didn’t want; the Master in his head.
Looking up, Tom swallowed hard as he saw the mid-way security office ahead of him. He’d arrived quicker than he’d realised. Twice in one day, this was fast showing signs of becoming a bad habit in turning to the Master for help.
*
The Master looked up as the lock of his cell door clicked and the door itself slid open on the electronic mechanism. This was most irregular. He checked the clock on the wall and saw that it was now five past four in the afternoon. This was most irregular, he was allowed visitors after three PM and his expected visitor wasn’t due until tomorrow.
Swinging his feet off his bunk, the Master sat up and fastened the top button of the high collared white institution shirt he was wearing. Getting to his feet he stood in the centre of his cell and watched the door and waited. He could hear the heavy footfalls on the metal grating that lined the floor of the concrete corridor. The footfalls were too loud and heavy to be the cheap faux-leather shoes that the imbecile Crompton wore. Indeed, they were more like the Cuban-heeled cowboy boots that Mr. Rowan had worn when he visited him earlier in the day.
He got his answer when the leather trench-coated figure appeared in the doorway, the bottom of the coat flapping round his ankles as he turned to look into the room.
“Ah, Mr. Rowan,” the Master smiled stepping back and gesturing to a chair. “Please sit down. This is indeed a pleasure; two visits in one day, I am honoured.”
“Can the niceties,” Tom almost growled as he gripped the back of the chair the Master had indicated. “I’m not here to pass the time of day, I’m here for information.”
“Ah, much like your last visit?” the Master smiled taking a seat himself. “Do please sit down, Mr. Rowan, don’t feel the need to stand on ceremony.”
“Oh, I don’t, don’t worry,” Tom replied stepping back from the chair and purposefully making a point to stay standing.
“If you insist,” the Master said, reaching across for the brandy decanter. “Would you care for a drink?”
“I said can the niceties,” Tom repeated. “You said that Elizabeth should be the current monarch, so what do you know about Duncan?”
“My, we are hostile towards me this afternoon,” the Master said affecting a mock hurt tone.
“Yeah, well, forgive me if considering our past meetings hasn’t painted you in the best light to me.”
“Ah, ah,” the Master said wagging a finger at Tom, “past meeting, singular. Don’t forget your first meeting with me I haven’t experienced yet. I can’t know too much about what will happen now, can I?”
Tom scowled. “Are you just talking about your personal future or now?” he asked.
“Which do you think, Mr Rowan?” the Master retorted with a smile.
“I’m not in the mood for your games,” Tom almost snapped back.
“My, my,” the Master replied, almost sounding genuinely shocked at Tom’s outburst. “You may follow the Doctor’s noble crusade, but you do have a different approach than he does.”
“Yeah, well, you just push my buttons, alright?” Tom said with a scowl.
“Well, I do apologise,” the Master replied with a smile. “Now, what is it you want to know, and I’ll see if I can oblige.”
Tom narrowed his eyes and took a cautious step backwards. “Alright then, can I trust you?”
“You can, or you can disbelieve everything I say,” the Master replied flatly. “Yes, I’ve spent years clashing with the Doctor, yes, I’ve tried to destroy this miserable planet and yes, I’ve lead various alien races to this planet to try to help them conquer it. But am I always lying? No. Mr. Rowan, believe it or not, I do tell the truth a lot; I’m honest in my attempts. This has nothing whatsoever to do with me, and believe it or not, I’m rather intrigued by these events as you.”
“Hmn,” Tom replied, narrowing his eyes again. “I don’t know,” he said.
“Oh, Mr. Rowan,” the Master said before taking a sip of brandy. “The future has a way of arriving unannounced. Not even we Time Lords can always see what is just around our own personal corners. Sometimes we can tell that something is coming, or foresee something, but other times, our eyes are closed to the bigger picture.”
“What are you talking about?” Tom replied, finally sitting down.
“Mr. Rowan,” the Master said, sitting so he was more comfortable, “you are young and have a lot to learn. I however, have been around for considerably longer. I’ve seen things you could only imagine. People believe what their minds tell them to believe, what they see doesn’t always come into it. We can blind people to the obvious, and the closer they are to that fact, the less likely they may be able to see it.”
Whilst the Master has been talking, Tom’s face twisted into even more of a scowl before he slammed his fist down on the table, cutting the Master off and causing the glasses and decanter to rattle. “Will you stop talking in bloody riddles?” he yelled.
“Mr. Rowan,” the Master continued, “if you would just calm down and listen, you may very well understand.”
“Just cut the crap, Master,” Tom said, before wincing at using the Master’s name. “Tell me flat out.”
“I’d have thought that was obvious.”
Tom merely raised his eyebrow, which the Master ignored.
“This Mr. Duncan has fascinated me,” the older Time Lord continued. “He appears to have won the support from the whole country without doing anything, other than clearing up after you, the Doctor and the delightful Miss. Lawton halted my last plan and subtly organising things so that he has complete control over the police and the armed forces.”
“At the very least,” Tom replied before double taking. “What did you say?”
“That our Mr. Duncan has taken control over the police and armed forces,” the Master repeated. “I believe they would say that it is the formation of a dictatorship or police state, if he had any sway over the government or prime minister. But then, he does have his little friend in the cabinet, doesn’t he?”
“How the hell do you know all this?” Tom replied, his mouth agape. “I never told you about the police and army thing. I only found out myself recently. And what’s this friend thing he’s got going on in the government?”
“Well, I’d have thought that was obvious, Mr. Rowan,” the Master explained. “It would make sense for him to take control over the law enforcement agencies. Wasn’t he made the head of the police back in September?”
“Ok, I’ll give you that one,” Tom replied. “But you seem to know more about this than you’re letting on.”
“You forget, I’m a Time Lord,” the Master replied. “We have that ability to see more than is just going on under the surface.”
“Well, you seem to be seeing stuff that I don’t,” Tom said. “Care to tell me what that is?”
“Simple,” the Master said, spreading his hands. “You have to know a bit of the history of the British parliaments and monarchs. To cut the story short; in the early 1700s, the parliament at the time passed a legislation that only allowed descendents of Elizabeth Stuart, the daughter of James the first to ascend to the throne. Now, I’m sure you know that Elizabeth the first and James the first were related, but not that closely; second cousins, if memory serves. So, due to this parliamentary legislation dating back about three hundred years, our Mr. Duncan would not have been able to ascend to the throne. However, as he is, it therefore stands to reason that he has contacts within the government who were able to repeal this legislation, thus allowing him to become the next monarch. So much so, that it gives him a stronger claim to the British throne that the current Elizabeth. Are you still with me?”
Tom looked at the Master for several seconds before replied. Before speaking he stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Is that all true or are you talking nonsense, trying to cover up for you knowing something I don’t?”
“Mr. Rowan, you could pick up a book from any local library and find out exactly what I just told you for yourself,” the Master replied taking a sip from his brandy. “Minus, of course, the latest bit, which I doubt they’ll have had time to write down and publish, even in this day and age. You just have to know where to look. I’m sure that even if Mr. Duncan is marching down this country to dictatorship or police state, as they seem to be with clamping down on your investigation, I think someone would have noticed if they were removing information from the public libraries.”
“Ok, I accept that,” Tom replied, “it sounds logical enough.”
“As I said, Mr. Rowan,” the Master said, “people will only see what their eyes want them to see and what their brain tells their eyes to see. If they don’t want to want to see it, their mind will block it out. And that works for everyone,” he added looking pointedly at Tom.
“And what does that mean?” Tom asked coldly, leaning forwards.
“It simply means, Mr. Rowan, that one should keep their mind and eyes open,” the Master said sitting back. “I do trust I’ve been of use to you, only I imagine that Governor Crompton is near to bursting a blood vessel with you in here until this time.”
“Not the subtlest thing you’ve said this afternoon,” Tom replied. “In fact I’d go as far as to say that was the easiest to understand thing you’ve said, and probably the most honest.”
“Like I said earlier, Mr. Rowan,” the Master smiled settling back in his chair, “I’m open and honest about my intent. I never deny my plans or ambitions.”
“Fair enough,” Tom said getting to his feet. “If that’s the way you want to play it.”
“Mr. Rowan, the only game I’m playing at the moment, is yours,” the Master smiled.
“Yeah,” Tom said as he reached the door. “You keep saying that, one day someone will believe you.”
“One day, you will too, Mr. Rowan, you’ll have to,” the Master retorted. “Have I ever said that I was planning something and not attempted it?”
Tom paused at the door as he thought over that. In his two previous dealings with the Master, he had been honest about his plans, as evil and twisted as they were. That was certainly true, and it was one of the unsettling things about the man, he would tell you he was about to try and kill you before he then tried that. “Ok, I’ll believe you,” he said finally.
“You don’t sound too convinced, Mr. Rowan,” the Master said. “Think on it.”
Tom paused for several more seconds at the door, staring at the Master before he turned on his heel and marching down the corridor.
“You’d better start believing me soon,” the Master said slightly louder, “you’re overlooking a lot of things yourself, even I can see it; something is coming.”
*
Kelly felt uncomfortable. There was a certain something that was bugging her. It wasn’t that she was sat in a car that she had ‘borrowed’ from the garage of a secret military organisation with a, frankly, rather gorgeous man who claimed to be an alien and was now sat outside a maximum security prison containing another dangerous alien. There was something else.
Looking in the rear-view mirror, it suddenly hit her. The road had been pretty quiet since she’d been sat there waiting for Tom, only a few cars had gone past. Yet the car in the rear-view mirror was scarily familiar. Her eyes widening, she suddenly realised why it was so familiar; the vast majority of the cars which had gone past were all one colour; red. Not only that, they were also the same make; Citroën. Normally, Kelly wasn’t one to spot cars, they were just a means of getting from A to B for her, although despite this, she was able to recognise a good quality car when she saw one, and the one she was currently in certainly was.
Taking another look in the rear-view mirror, she looked closer at the only other car parked nearby. She had vaguely been aware of the car drawing up some distance behind her some time ago yet she hadn’t remembered seeing anyone get out of it. Sure enough, she could make out a figure sat behind the wheel of the Citroën. Peering closer at the mirror, Kelly tried to make out the figure. She couldn’t see much of them, but they certainly looked suspicious, it was certainly not the weather to be wearing dark glasses, as it seemed this person seemed to be.
Curious about this, Kelly opened the car door and got out. Making sure she had the keys on her, so someone didn’t steal the car from under her nose, she shut the driver’s door and turned to the suspicious car. As she made closer, she could begin to make out more of the mysterious person behind the wheel. They looked rather slight and we wearing dark glasses and a headscarf. They were definitely female, and they were watching her. Or the institute, she wasn’t sure, but she got the distinct feeling that they were now looking right at her.
Pulling her coat round her closer, she decided to confront this person. It was only when she was reaching the car that was parked between her and the red Citroën that she realised the mysterious driver had turned the engine on. With a growl of the motor and a slight screech of the tyres, the red Citroën swung out of its parking space and headed straight for Kelly. Her eyes widened when she saw it, the realisation hitting her instantly; the driver was attempting to knock her over.
With a speed that surprised her, Kelly jumped out of the way, hitting the bonnet of the silver car beside her with a painful bump. She slid off and landed awkwardly on the wet road in a heap as the car sped off.
Her heart pounding loudly in her chest, she looked up, her hair splayed over her face, her eyes wide. Scrambling to her feet, Kelly looked down the road in the direction that the red car had taken. She could just see it turning a corner, some distance away. Looking down at her hands, she saw that she was shaking. It was hardly surprising really. As cute as this Tom was, she wasn’t game for insane women driving at her trying to kill her and she was going to tell him that.
Making a careful point of checking the traffic, Kelly crossed the road and reached the gates to the institute. The high wrought iron gates were closed and locked, electronically it appeared. There was a small terminal set into one of the gateposts and what looked like a small security office just inside. She couldn’t be sure, but the small office seemed as though it was made from a rather heavy metal with thick green-tinted glass. She couldn’t see anyone inside.
Kelly was reaching for the buzzer on the intercom which was set into the gatepost when she saw a figure marching down the drive to the gate. The long trench coat billowing out behind him and the hat gave him away long before she saw his features. When she was sure that he could see her, she made a point of waving to him, and he returned the wave, before nodding in the direction of the security office. With a heavy clunk, the gates started to swing open, inwards.
Fighting the urge to run to him, Kelly stayed where she was stood and waited, her arms folded. She tried desperately to get an indignant look on her face, but she was sure that she was still looking more shocked over the incident with the car than anything. The expression on Tom’s face soon melted what little remained of her resentment; he was looking intensely troubled and rather worried. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of shock over the car incident.
Toms gaze still seemed rather absent until he was stood outside the gate and next to her. “I thought I said to stay in the-?” he started before noting the look on Kelly’s face. “What happened?”
Unable to manage the straight face any longer, Kelly flung her arms around Tom and hung on tight, her legs suddenly feeling weak.
“Ok, erm,” he stammered.
“I was being watched,” Kelly finally managed, “some crazy pregnant dog in dark glasses. She drove past me several times then pulled up behind. When I got out to confront her, the mad cow drove at me; tried to kill me.”
“Hey, hey,” Tom said, gently stroking a hand down her hair to sooth her. “It’s alright.”
“No, it’s not bloody alright,” Kelly said, stepping back and looking at him, the fury back in her eyes. “I’m not used to crazy pregnant doges trying to kill me. I’m not used to anybody trying to kill me, alright?”
“No, I understand,” Tom said, softly, looking into her eyes. “It’s not something that one comes into easily.”
Looking back into Tom’s eyes, she found herself almost relaxing again, her anger subsiding easily. “What about you?” she asked.
“Usual Master crap,” Tom said. “He said he was telling the truth, but then again, he said that, so it’s whether you can trust that.”
“Can you?”
“I dunno,” Tom shrugged, sitting down on the curb. “He said that he’s honest in his intent, and he is that; he’s never denied his ambitions to conquer or destroy Earth, or bend the minds of others to his will. So I guess he is honest in that way.”
Getting the feeling that they were going to be here for a while, Kelly arranged her coat so that she could sit down next to him.
“He’s been honest, but for the wrong reasons, I guess,” Tom continued. “He said that Duncan intrigues him, and I believe him on that. But he was being hugely cryptic about it all. He seems to enjoy talking in riddles. So I guess that he does tell the truth, but in such a way that you can’t understand it.”
“A bit like you then, sometimes,” Kelly said.
“A bit like the Doctor too,” Tom countered. “I guess it must be a Time Lord thing then.”
“So, what now then?” Kelly asked.
“Now, we need to pop to a library or something and then,” Tom said clapping his hands and getting to his feet, “Am I taking you out for a meal or something? I believe I owe you for driving me here, and I think you could do with something less car being driven at you.”
Kelly looked up into Tom’s ice blue eyes and smiled. “I know a very nice place that does good food,” she smiled.
And whilst the old Doc isn't about at the moment, we're not too far off another veteran of Whodom making an appearance.