For Eileen <3<3

[pawnofrassilon]

On a cold spring evening in Wiltshire, in the year 2011, a man falls to Earth.

Some children look up and think they see a shooting star that night. Adults, knowing that whatever it is is far too large, think it might be a comet or meteor. Or else they assume it's a trick of the eyes, an afterimage of a headlamp on the road. Some, oddly enough, think of angels. News reports are non-definitive.

Much like the film, the man isn't quite a 'man' at all-- not by the twenty-first century Earth definition, anyhow. He's alien, though it's only by the doubling of his pulses and the nature of his abrupt appearance in the first place that any human could tell.

Unlike the film, he isn't particularly concerned with saving his home world. Not anymore.

The Master lies very still for a long time, heedless of the fact he's crumpled up in the middle of an open field. He's fallen quite a distance, even for a Time Lord. And many of his injuries are much, much older than that. His clothes are little more than rags, torn to shreds and singed to the point of near purposelessness. If it's even possible, he's dirtier than ever. Exhausted. Parched. Hungry. So hungry.

Eventually it's the hunger that gets him up and keeps him moving. Feeling the click and slide of bones that are likely dislocated if not broken, the Master struggles to his feet, heaving and wincing in pain, his skin becoming momentarily translucent with the effort. He's in trouble, his energy stores dangerously low and his body in real danger of being ripped apart. But it's nothing a little snack won't fix. Taking a great whiff of the night air, he cracks a grin just short of sanity... and lets his nose lead him staggering through the darkness.

Comments

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

"After a stunt like that?" one agent returned, his weapon still carefully aimed at the Master. "I'm of a mind to let you starve to death."

"Cole, we won't be doing that," Rose replied as she checked the bandage around her wrist. "Take him to one of the cells."

To the Master, she said, "No. He never did. Why do you call yourself the Master, then?"

[syncopath]

The Master stares calmly back at the agent; he's well aware of who's really in charge here-- and, lucky for him, it would be a bleeding heart disciple of the Doctor's.

His amused, confident expression does fade somewhat at Rose's order, though, into one of incredulous indignation.

"You're locking me up? Because I didn't kill you?"

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

"You've shown you're a danger to others, and I'm not going to be responsible for allowing you to run rampant in the city." She nodded toward the agents.

"You heard her," the one called Cole said. "Follow us if you know what's good for you."

[syncopath]

"Oh, I've shown you nothing yet." The Master's voice has quieted to a low growl, his eyes burning into Rose's. But his heartsbeat is quickening, the drums echoing back, his hands glowing faintly as he stands there, not budging. He can't be confined. Not again.

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

She regards him, not allowing herself to be cowed.

"Then it seems we're at a stalemate. What do you propose we do? I can't let you go about hurting people."

[syncopath]

Oh, she sounds just like the Doctor and it makes him sick. As if he has any say as to what will happen to him.

"I propose you leave well enough alone," the Master scowls. "Of course, I realize that's near impossible considering just who you work for."

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

"In one of the cells, you'll be safe, we'll be safe, and I'll make sure we get you as much food as possible. Alternately, you could stay here in the med bay, and we could find out why you're so hungry, and try to fix it. Either way, I'll stay with you."

[syncopath]

He bristles. "I don't need a chaperone." He takes a step back toward Rose, ignoring the guns still trained on him and staring at her intently.

"Last chance, Rose Tyler. Let me go... or I promise you, next time I won't stop."

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

"If you try to hurt me again, I promise you, they will shoot, whether I want them to or not." She stares right back at him. "Do I have your word you will not harm any people?"

[syncopath]

The Master smiles, slowly. "My word." It isn't as if he has to keep it.

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

Rose smiles tightly and crosses to the Master.

"I have eyes all over this city," she says lowly. "If I hear a whisper of you breaking that word, I will hunt you down and destroy you. Do we understand each other, then?"

[syncopath]

He doesn't move a muscle as she comes closer, his smile still wide and confident. A stalemate, then. For now.

"One wolf to another?" he says softly. "You can try."

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

"And believe me, I will," she says. "Come back, when you've eaten, and we'll go looking for the Doctor."

Then she backs up. "Let him go."

The other operatives look at her like she's off her nut, but they back away, still keeping their weapons trained on him.

She is, a little, isn't she? ;D

[syncopath]

The Master blinks a little, as if he can't believe it either-- and then his confusion clears and he's smirking again at the agents as they hastily clear a path for him. None of them quite want to touch him, for obvious reasons.

It's only after he's reached the outer door and stepped just beyond it that he turns and blows a kiss in Rose's direction. Then he's off, breaking into a fast run.

He doesn't plan on coming back.

[Will she come looking for him, eventually? Should he break his vow? ;)]

Re: She's got a plan :)

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

Rose watched him go, pressing her lips together in a slight grimace at that kiss. Once she was certain he was gone, she went to the nearest computer terminal and started typing.

Cole came up beside her. "I take it he doesn't know about the tracking chip?"

One more keystroke, and the monitors show a map of the city with a blinking red light showing the Master's position. Rose can't help but smile a little.

"Nope."

She turns to the agents. "Let's roll."



[Hope this is okay? Not too godmode-y?]

Okay, so she's evil AND off her nut, check!

[syncopath]

The Master runs, what's left of his boots slapping against the pavement to the beat of drums. There aren't many people out at this hour, and those who are in his way quickly move to avoid this obviously mad individual at all costs.

Once he's sure he must be far enough away from the Torchwood hub, he slows to a stroll and takes stock of the situation. First things first. The running has left him hungry again, and his clothes are in tatters. The Master sniffs the air, cocking his head. The smell of smoke, sour sweat, and rubbish, the clink of bottles and the creak of a dumpster lid. He smiles and slips into the nearby alley.

Mere minutes later, he emerges, wearing an over-sized jumper, knit cap, scuffed trainers, and surprisingly well-fitting, though stained, jeans. Behind him a new smell has mixed with the rest in the alley: the sharp tang of artron.

The Master licks a stray bit of blood from the back of his hand and moves on.

[Fine by me!]

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

Rose and her team were in the van, one of the team members driving, Rose in the passenger seat directing them using the tracking device to pinpoint the Master's position. She noticed the red dot standing still in an alley for a couple minutes and swore under her breath. Breaking his promise so soon.

When they reached the alley, the Master was gone, but spatters of blood told the stomach-turning tale of what must have gone on there. Cole grimly turned to Rose, and she nodded.

"We bring him down," she said.

I'm gonna assume they're still in Wiltshire or thereabouts?

[syncopath]

By the time he stops long enough to be found, he's made his way to the Savernake Forest, leaving a haphazard trail of death in his wake. Bones, mostly, still smoking from recent artron activity, but occasionally scraps of clothing or drops of blood here and there. He kills indiscriminately-- men, women, children, dogs. Rats and birds. Whatever crosses his path and lingers stupidly long enough. He obviously hasn't made much of an effort to chase anything down. That's one thing in his favor, at least: he isn't being particularly malicious. Not yet.

Time Lords don't usually need the amount of regular sleep humans do. But the changes to his body, and having been half-starved for so long, have taken their toll on his endurance. Currently he's curled up at the base of a gnarled, ancient oak tree, napping fitfully.

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

"He's stopped moving," Rose said as they approached the Master's location. Once they were fairly close, they parked the van and the team climbed out moving as quietly as possible, their weapons drawn, headed toward the blinking red dot.

[syncopath]

He's never slept all that well, not since the drums started in his head. When he does they invade his dreams, twisting them until they're almost exclusively nightmares. And it's only gotten worse over time. It keeps him on edge... but it also keeps him alive, sometimes.

This would be one of those times.

The sharp pop of one twig snapping, then several more. Leaves crunching. The sound of a car door clicking shut, far too close for comfort. The Master jolts awake, crouching low to the ground and listening carefully. Footsteps, in his forest. Coming closer. The stink of humanity, nearly overpowered by the smell of petrol.

He doesn't think; he jumps, excess life force propelling him high up into the forest cover. He settles onto a sturdy branch and peers down into the darkness, staying still and silent.

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

Rose and her team get closer and closer to the blinking red dot...

Cole frowns as they approach a tree, and shows the tracking device to Rose. "I don't get it. This is where the chip signal is coming from. We should be right on top of him."

Rose bites her lip... then slowly looks up into the dark branches above them. "Or beneath him..."

[syncopath]

As if in response, there's a sharp crackling from above... and then a bolt of electricity shoots out of the tree toward the team, like lightning gone horribly wrong.

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

There's no time to do anything but scream.

The woman who the bolt strikes nearest to falls writhing to the ground, and the medic goes to her side. Rose glares up into the branches and shouts out.

"All right! You're the one with the power here! That's what you want, isn't it? To be the Master? I'm the one you want! Leave the others alone!"

[syncopath]

A dark chuckle erupts from the dark mass of leaves and branches, echoing in the dark. He could be anywhere in that tree.

"Why would I settle for you when you've brought me so much more to eat? Torchwood Catering, right on schedule."

[a-lost-wolf.livejournal.com]

"Because you want to see the Doctor, just as much as I do! And if you harm anyone else, you'll die here, in this universe, having never seen him again."