Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter One

"Black hole converter," he’d sneered at the Doctor. "One in every rocket. If I can’t have this planet Doctor - then neither can you!"

The other man had started rambling then. Blah, blah blah, can’t destroy the planet or you’ll kill us all. Kill yourself. Didn’t the Doctor ever think about anything? Really! How stupid did he think the Master actually was? Like he hadn’t realized the stupid do gooder had been inside the Archangel network from the beginning, or realized that the Freak was currently destroying the paradox machine and unlocking the Tardis controls all at the same time?

"Nope," the Master snapped as he reached into his coat for the teleportation device Miss Jones had so kindly given him a few moments before. "I don’t think so." As he teleported he could just make out the Doctor struggling to reach him and failing - remaining trapped on the Earth below.

As he rematerialized inside the Valiant he looked at the chaos surrounding him and smiled. "Expecting someone else perhaps?" He chuckled. "The Doctor maybe? Well too bad!"

Reaching out he grabbed Martha Jones, the whelp, by the collar of her jacket and pulled her in front of him forcefully. Holding her still with the hand still clasping the black hole converter he dug into the sports coat pocket for his screwdriver. Finding it, he pressed it against her temple. Smiling he looked at the others. "Anyone moves, Saint Martha gets it. Oh yes, and so does the planet and your precious Doctor currently trapped on it."

With that he began to pull Martha out of the room and down the corridors toward the Tardis. The others followed behind cautiously, watching him drag their precious Saint Martha to his escape.

"The Doctor isn’t going to let you get away with this," she panted angrily.

"Oh do shut up," the Master rolled his eyes. "He isn’t going to do a thing to me." Leaning in for the killing shot he whispered into her ear. "It’s not like you’re Rose after all." He felt her stiffen then and smiled. Things would be going his way very, very soon. Keeping the laser screwdriver pointed at her head he dropped the black hole converter back into his pocket. Best if he kept that hidden from her for now.

No one stopped him as he pulled Martha into the Tardis and slammed the door behind them. "You can’t move it," Martha taunted. "The Doctor locked the coordinates. Here or the end of the Universe. Your choice. But those are the only places you can go."

"Wrong again faithful companion," the Master sneered as he threw the lock and began to press random buttons on the console. "Destroy the paradox machine and you have to destroy the lock holding the coordinates in place. This little baby’s fully functional and has a full tank as well. Thank you Freak!"

He smiled at the shocked look on her face and hit the final button to slip them into the Time Vortex. "Doctor!" She screamed in panic and began to pound on the Tardis doors. "Let me out!"

The Master clicked his tongue against his teeth. "I don’t think you really want that do you? I mean I’d let you out but well you’d be pulled apart by the Time Vortex. Really, pulled apart. Insides on the outside and all of that. It’s not very pleasant."

"Doctor!" Martha screamed again and pounded on the Tardis doors. "Doctor!" Spinning she glared at the Master. "You monster! I don’t care if the two of you are the last of your kind - he’s going to kill you once he gets back here!"

"You think?" the Master asked as he reclined in the jump seat and propped his feet on the console. "Really? You might be overestimating your value with the Doctor. I mean sure," he shrugged. "If you were Rose then I’d be worried. I mean she swallowed the Time Vortex, fought the Daleks, all sorts of things."

"I walked the world!" Martha declared. "Helped him defeat the Master!"

"You also unleashed me if you think about it," the Master chimed in. "So really all you did was try to clean up your own mess."

"My mess!"

"Well come on," he sighed. "Yana had no idea that he/I was the Master. Was quite content at the end of the Universe. Had enough provisions to last as things fell apart around him and Chanto. Even had himself some plans for a little cross species romance as the universe disintegrated around him. Not much, mind you, but a little snuggle wouldn’t have been bad. Then you show up and tell him to open the watch. Really Martha Jones, I wouldn’t be here at all except you told me to open that watch. I’d be at the end of the Universe romancing that delightful insect Chanto."

"But," she stuttered. "You can’t blame this on me. I was only trying to help you! How was I supposed to know you’re evil?"

"Ever heard the old saying ‘no good deed goes unpunished’ Martha Jones?"

"Shut up!" She shouted and pounded against the door once more. "Just shut up!"

"Oh fine!" The Master sighed dramatically. "I’m sure the Doctor will find a way to get here and handle it all before you know it. That magical, wonderful Doctor. I mean after all he saved Madame du Pompadour, he saved Rose I don’t know how many times. It should take him how long you think? The average is about five and a half hours right? We’ll give him six just for some wiggle room. What do you say Martha Jones? Six hours? A little bet? You win and before the Doctor kills me I’ll cook you dinner. He doesn’t show up in six hours then you cook me dinner."

"I wouldn’t trust your cooking," Martha huffed.

"You should," the Master smiled. "I’m actually quite good. It’s a hobby of sorts you could say. I’ll even let the Doctor test it for poison first with his screwdriver. It’s got a poison detection setting. Did you know that? No," he smiled. "Well it does. So when he shows up I’ll make dinner and then you can do what you want with me. Don’t worry I make a mean spaghetti bolognaise."

He smirked at the look of disgust that passed her face. "No to the Italian food then? Well gee, what shall I cook? Guess I should think about that shouldn’t I?" With that he turned and began to saunter towards the kitchen. "I’m going to have tea. Would you care for some Martha Jones?"

When she glared at him angrily he just smiled again. "No? Oh well. One question though." When she looked up he let his face assume an air of innocence. "You do know how to cook don’t you? I have a feeling you’ll be doing it for a very, very long time if we keep betting on the Doctor’s arrival."