It was almost time for a change…
Donna stared at the sinister bearded man, who in turn was staring intently at the Doctor.
‘Was that your native tongue you spoke just now?’ Donna asked, amazed to find she was still curious, despite her shakes.
‘No, actually,’ the Doctor replied. ‘It’s an artificial human language called Esperanto, invented in 1887 by a Polish oculist named Zamenhof. He wanted it to become the universal language of peace. Typical of the Master to corrupt it. Estro is the Esperanto word for Master.’ He smiled grimly. ‘I had my suspicions when I first heard the name.’
The Master stepped forward, and Donna saw him clearly for the first time. He was dressed almost entirely in black, some odd sort of jacket that fastened right to his neck. He wore gloves, a slightly greying beard, and a rather unpleasant smile. She disliked him immediately. He just… seemed dangerous, more so than Downs, because he had a strength of purpose about him, and an air that suggested he would do whatever was required to meet his goals. She saw the intelligence burning in his eyes.
‘And yet, Doctor, here you are, caught like a moth by a flame,’ the Master said. ‘You should surely have known better.’
‘What better way of getting to you?’ the Doctor asked, spreading his hands. ’And I’m sure you’ll be quite willing to explain your latest little scheme to me.’ He turned to wink at Donna. ‘It’s a weakness of his,’ he confided. ‘He tries to look and sound so bold, but he’s actually quite insecure. He’s always trying to excite my imagination and approval for his nasty little plans.’
The Master regarded the Doctor mildly. ‘I’m rather tempted to just kill you here and now and have done with it,’ he said, sighing. ‘You really are no fun any more. Perhaps it’s age catching up with you. So you’ve changed bodies again? Getting through them aren’t you?’
‘And you’re still in the same old body,’ the Doctor mused thoughtfully. ‘Quite remarkable. You’re rather well preserved.’
‘Thank you,’ said the Master with a small ironic bow. ‘Life has been rather good to me of late. As a result of which, I will indulge your puerile curiosity before I leave you to your fate.’ He turned to Downs and the guards. ‘Why don’t you run along and prepare whatever tools you need for your questioning?’ be suggested. ‘I assure you, I am more than able to keep these three captives until you return.’
Downs scowled at him. ‘Are you sure of that?’
‘Quite sure,’ the Master said firmly. ‘Off you go, I insist. You’ll want to be well prepared for these… guests.’
‘Suit yourself,’ Downs agreed. He gestured to the guards to accompany him. As he left he called back over his shoulder,’ If you’re wrong, I shan’t mourn you.’
While the Master was occupied, the Doctor leaned forward to whisper quietly to Donna. ‘I seem to have done something naughty. My people usually have a law that we must meet each other in a linear progression along our relative time‐streams. But I’ve slipped back in regards to the Master – I’ve met him in two and a half bodies since this one.’
‘I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about,’ Donna confessed, wearily.
‘Well, it’s important he doesn’t find out,’ the Doctor informed her. ‘I think I must have bent the law out of all shape by backtracking Susan’s psychic call instead of simply answering it. I suspect that means I’ll be in trouble again…’
Donna was about to reply when the Doctor held his hand up. The Master turned back to them and the Doctor gave him a cheerful smile.
‘What a charming fellow Mr Downs seems to be,’ the Doctor said, when they were alone. ‘You certainly manage to gravitate towards the diseased centre, don’t you, Estro?’
‘Please, Doctor,’ the Master answered calmly. He studied Donna and David the way a taxidermist studies his subjects. She shivered at the touch of his eyes. ‘I see you’ve collected humans again. It’s a terrible weakness of yours.’
‘Actually, it’s a strength,’ the Doctor assured him. ‘But don’t let me stop you from gloating. Just what are you planning on using DA‐17 for?’
The Master stroked his beard and smiled. ‘You naturally found out about that. Well, you may recall that a short while ago I did the Daleks a slight favour.’
‘He tried to start a war between Earth and Draconia in the future to weaken both empires,’ the Doctor explained helpfully.
‘Quite. Well, I was in their… employ, I used my time to raid their computer files. They alerted me to a few interesting facts that I’m making use of.’ The Master reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a stubby device that he held casually in his hand. ‘Just in case any of you feel terribly heroic,’ he said.
‘That’s a Tissue Compression Eliminator,’ the Doctor said softly, for Donna’s and David’s benefit, ‘it will kill you and compact you into six small inches. And he’ll use it on the slightest provocation, or just for pleasure, so don’t even think of rushing him.’
‘Quite so,’ the Master said, almost kindly, before returning to his gloat. ‘The first useful item was a Dalek hatchery on Sayomin Three. It occurred to me that I could reprogramme it so that the Daleks would obey me instead of that ridiculous Dalek Prime. Unfortunately, I miscalculated, and the entire brood had to be wiped out. Fortunately, I found a use for their gun‐sticks. I brought a supply with me.’
The Doctor stared at him in horror. ‘You’ve supplied Dalek weapons to Haldoran and his men?’
‘Yes, Doctor,’ the Master agreed. ‘They’re finding them most useful in expanding their territory. I’ve just handed over the latest consignment. I estimate that Haldoran’s forces will overrun London sometime in the next two days.’
The Doctor frowned. ‘But why are you doing this?’ he asked. You surely have no interest in ruling this insignificant little island?’
‘Of course not,’ the Master agreed. ‘It’s of absolutely no interest to me who rules at the end of the day. This whole business is simply a diversion to pass the time. I was forced to wait for the implementation of my main scheme, so I dabbled in local politics in the meantime.’
Donna stared at him in horror as she realised what he was saying. ‘You mean you started this war between Haldoran and London just to stave off boredom?’ she demanded.
‘Quite,’ he agreed without shame. ‘I needed something to do while I waited.’
‘You murdering, festering little scumbag!’ Donna yelled. She realised that, to him, her life and the lives of everyone else here on Earth were of absolutely no significance, except as amusements. She jumped to her feet, intent on throwing herself at him, whatever he might be armed with. Two inflexible hands grabbed her arms, and the Doctor held her tightly.
‘There’s no point in getting yourself killed,’ he advised her. ‘Wait for your opportunity.’
The Master laughed. ‘Ever the optimist, Doctor!’ he crowed. ‘That chance will never arise. But do, please, continue to delude yourself into believing that it will. It makes the game so much more interesting.’
The Doctor glared coldly at him. ‘You were about to tell us the real reason you’re here,’ he prompted. ‘DA‐17?’
‘Oh, yes, do forgive me. The other item I discovered from the Dalek database was the existence of that very installation.’ His face was animated now. ‘It was a Dalek research facility here on Earth. They were testing a new device when you managed to… shut them down and seal them off. The device was sealed into DA‐17. All that was needed to free it was to repower the locks to the installation, and to walk inside and collect the device. Naturally, the Daleks left certain… safeguards. Computers, keyed into specific Dalek codes.’