Dearest Friend

[BadMasterYouJerk]

"M-Mommy?"


That whisper of fear and dread was hardly heard over the cracking and aching of wood and fire, smoke had bellowed into the small rooms of the tiny house, the dead bodies laid along the floor beside the set of dirty, little feet. A curly haired, green eyed child stared with huge eyes at the burned, and bloody bodies of his parents, laid about his kitchen floor. A bullet hole was lodged into each of their heads, and blood oozed out onto the old rug beneath them. The little boy knelt down, only wearing a dirty shirt, hardly suitable for such a child. He pawed at his father's hairy and burned face, wanting nothing more then for him to awaken. Why was he so sleepy?


A strong cough came from the boy and he laid against his father's chest, sobbing loudly and pawing harder, big tears bubbling from his eyes. "Daddy please! Please wake up!" he wailed. The smoke came in stronger, dirtying the air, the strong smell of suit and burning old wood filled the boys lounges. He could hardly breathe.


~~


"Dear Lord!!" he almost toppled over the railing of the Tardis' main hall, clutching the bar tightly and staring with large, foggy, bright blue eyes into nothingness. He was out of breathe, the poor man. "Be more careful will you??" He shouted, pawing about for his walking stick. "You almost killed us with that landing!" He knelt down, grabbing his stick finally, before coughing. "Not one of your better landings but who can blame you." he smirked slightly, before sniffing at the air.


"Doctor- do you smell something..."

 

[Lucyfer]

The TARDIS rocked, but the Doctor had expected it. He splayed his hands over the console to hold his ground, keeping his feet rooted in place, legs bent just a bit in the black slacks he wore. He did not fall over. He was always glad he didn’t pick dress shoes, but a pair of white tennis shoes instead. With all the running he did, and the ridiculous escapades, it wouldn’t work to be in slick dress shoes.


His friend, John, was not so fortunate. He didn’t fall, but the Doctor did see him hit the railing roughly, “Sorry!” But they were in a hurry, following after the Sontaran. The TARDIS followed the trail urgently, trying to prevent the attack and destruction that would come. He knew they couldn’t stop all of it—that was too far gone—but they could stop it from spreading.


The Doctor moved swiftly to where John was and put a hand on his arm, touched the man’s hand with his other to help him out. No longer could John see him, and the Doctor had changed since he last had, which was disappointing. The one time the Doctor gets ginger hair, and his companion can’t even appreciate it.


The day the Doctor regenerated had been the day that John lost his eye sight. His ginger hair was wasted on him, but his green eyes were the same, curiously enough. They were a dark hue, but bright. “Yes, I smell it. Come, we need to put a stop to this,” he gave a pull to tell direction, though he was certain John had the interior of the TARDIS memorized.


He went to the door and pushed it open, only to be greeted with smoke, right as he was inhaling, too! He took in a breath and started coughing immediately, but even through the roar of the fires and his own coughing, he heard a voice. ‘Oh, not mommy, not this again.’ Though the Doctor could use a gas mask. And inflammable clothing, these slacks and the blue button-down shirt were not working.


“Hello?” He called out, only to start coughing again. He covered his mouth and nose with the side of his arm and walked out into the smokey area, mentally cursing his timing. He squinted and looked through the smoke to discern where he was. Why was he in a house? Why had the TARDIS brought him here?


~***~


The Doctor was late, but UNIT was not.


UNIT had intercepted and translated the Sontaran communications. They had made sure the Sontaran ships would crash, and utilizing technology found in Torchwood 3, they had sealed off the area. Given, on such short notice, it unfortunately had to be in a residential area, but they would deal with that. Some members of UNIT were already working to pull the residents out of the variously burning or destroyed homes. They’d give them Retcon later, and figure out what to do about this.


Right now, it was most crucial to get rid of the Sontaran threat.


The woman in the red beret, Aria Solange, was not on a rescue mission. Her gun was loaded and not with typical, Earth bullets. These were made to pierce through the armor of the Sontarans. At her hip was also a sword, should she run out of bullets. In her early 30s, she had been with UNIT for a few years now and served many roles. Rarely was combat required, but in the times it was, she was there.


The Sontaran were also not subtle, and wanted fights far more than they ought to. “Woman, you do not belong out here,” one dared to taunt, “Go get the menfolk of your species to fight.”


And they always underestimated her. “Or are your menfolk so much worse than your women?”


“We’re about equal, actually.” She stated calmly, continuing her advance forward as the Sontaran burst into laughter, clearly not seeing the threat before him. He had hostages, he didn’t think she’d do anything rash.


He was so, very wrong.


“This planet shall be—”


The bullet went clean through the protective helmet on his head, and he fell back, to the surprise and horror of his fellow Sontaran.


The Sontaran took in the black-haired woman in a new light. “You shot him in parley!”


She pointed the gun at that Sontaran, and as he raised his to aim, she fired, blue eyes not leaving the Sontaran. The shot was clean and he, too, fell, leaving the hostages now unguarded. “Head down Wister Lane, straight down to the military vehicles. You’ll find help there,” she told the family.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

Johnathan took a deep breathe, his eyes went more wide then before, smelling the smoke now clear as rain. The footsteps of his old friend gave him the direction more then the tug did, and he was soon hurrying after the other with light, hurried steps. Johnathan might have a few old, grey hairs on his sandy blonde head, but he still had that luster of youth in his body, and just because he was blind didn't give him a reason to quiet now.


John nearly topped over when the other stopped, his hand flew in front of him and he clutched at the Doctor's back, grumbling. "What is i-" he stopped quickly when the faint noise of a sob or two came from inside. A flair of anger and fear rose in his heart and he quickly scampered into the burning building with the other, covering his mouth quickly with the color of his jumper. The fabric brushed against his slightly hairy chin and tickled it, as did the smoke that filled the small house.


"Doctor! Where are we? Is that a child?!" he shouted over the flames, coughing harshly once or twice. He tripped slightly over a leg, eyes wide. Where the hell were they??


~~


Oh this hadn't gone as planned at all. Oh well, it didn't matter, destruction was fun no matter who brought it. Though, the Master was grumbling about how he couldn't join in on the burning of the buildings. The screaming of the children aggravated and enlightened him. He loved that sound. He watched the women from a distance, hidden beside an old tree, his albino skin, hair and deep red eyes just stared at her, doting. What a looker. Just the type of strong, independent woman he liked to crush and play with.


He licked his lips and growled.


He hated it when that Doctor took away all the fun, humans were so delightful, and ugly to watch now that he thought of it. He huffed, before straightening his leather jacket and approached casually, grinning. "Nice work~." he praised with a clap.

 

[Lucyfer]

The Doctor felt the collision, but remained standing, if only for John’s sake. If he toppled, he was certain John would follow. “Not sure,” he answered, though it was slightly muffled by the fabric of his sleeve. He didn’t know where they were, or if it was a child, but he knew they were in the right place.


They needed to get out of the house. ‘But not before finding who’s here.’ For they did sound like a child. “This way, John! Careful!” But too late, John stumbled and the Doctor winced. He was always amazed at how well the man managed to keep his footing.


The Doctor saw the leg that was tripped over, though, and then saw the one on the ground. He wasn’t burned. “Careful, careful John, don’t disturb what’s there too much,” that wouldn’t be good.


The Doctor approached the one still living and breathing, and he knelt down. Despite the raging fires, he was calm. He didn’t reach out to the child immediately, lest he startle the young one, “Hello there,” he spoke softly, “I’m the Doctor,” introduction, good. He offered his hand, “I need you to come with me.” He didn’t want to pull the boy out, though he feared it might be necessary. The boy didn’t look as if he comprehended what was going on.


~***~


The family listened almost instantly and they ran out from the yard towards Wister street. Aria looked over her shoulder just once to follow their movements. She intended to continue on and find the rest of these Sontaran scum, but the sound of applause distracted her.


She turned her head towards a man who looked rather inhuman. ‘Albino?’ She’d never seen an albino before. Considering all she had seen, it was almost funny.


Aria pointed back the way the family had run, “Wister street is that way,” he wasn’t UNIT, nor was he the Doctor. Her tone was serious, matter-of-fact. “Please go that way and leave this zone.” She really didn’t have time to deal with civilians, no matter how calm and collected they seemed. Maybe UNIT would find a use for him later.


‘No.’


Woman’s intuition. Something was off, even if she couldn’t place what.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

The boy wasn't breathing right. He was choking on each breathe he took, each long, dry, labored breath hitched in the back of his throat and caught there. The boy looked ready to pass out. He was dirty, thin, not any older then five or six, those big green eyes filled with tears and red from the smoke that suffocated him. Johnathan heard the labored breathing from near him, and quickly knelt, dipping beneath the coat of smoke that ran along the ceiling. The boy began to sob tiredly, clutching his father tighter, and hugging the small stuffed bear closer to his tiny chest. "Wan daddy..." he coughed. John's heart began to hurt.


He felt around them, gripping the Doctor's arm and leaning closer to the boy, listening to him breath. "Doctor, he needs to get somewhere- *cough* he needs fresh air!" he coughed out, choking on his own air. The boy's eyes began to close, too tired to stay awake or bother with the two beings over the top of him. Maybe they were angels? Maybe they took his parents and baby sister with them? Maybe they were taking him home?


It all felt like a bad dream. He wanted to wake up.


"Doctor!" he shouted, the child stopped breathing. He gripped the other's arm tighter. "We need to get him some help now!!" he shouted, fear rising in his middle aged voice, the sound of it cracked.


~~


The Master rolled his eyes and glared at her. "What, haven't seen something as handsome as me, eh?" he asked, chuckling and smirking. "Come now, dont be a stranger!" he walked closer. "You seem like a strong little human. Perhaps you can get over yourself and come with me for a bit. I'm in need of...assistance." he smirked again, looking her over, before snorting.


"Those clothes wont do. You need something mooore..." he patted her back. "Flattering. Thats the word." he walked about her. "Oh, and you might want to look out for him. He's looking quiet nasty." he pointed behind her at one of the Sontaran soldiers hidden behind the building, aiming for the two of them. "Oh dear he looks upset." he snorted again and folds his arms, waiting for her to react.

 

[Lucyfer]

The Doctor’s own hearts hurt, but he still wanted to see the boy acknowledge him there, understand what was happening. It wasn’t going to happen. He was too young, and the smoke was killing him. It was not a painless death, either, the Doctor knew. He’d seen enough witch trials to know. He’d been accused of being a witch, too. Bad day.


It took John’s shout to get him to move, “All right!” It came as a bit of a snap. Not that the Doctor didn’t want to save the boy, just that he’d hoped for something of agreement.


He grabbed for the child and pulled him into his arms before rising, and looking around for an exit to get the boy fresh air, as well as himself. The TARDIS would survive the burning building just fine, he knew. It was strong like that. The Doctor saw an exit, and adjusted the boy in his arms so he could carry him in just one, then reached back to grab John’s hand. “This way, John.” He said, and began the march towards the door. It wasn’t far, he realized. The boy had been in the living room of his home. His parents must have died there, perhaps after sending the boy to bed.


The Doctor’s head imagined a thousand and one tragedies, most of which abolished when he was able to suck in the fresh air.


He gained some distance from the house, let go of John’s hand, and then knelt in the grass and laid the boy down. He would feel for a pulse first, and then check for breath. If there was no breath, he’d resort to CPR. While he was checking the boy, he said, “We seem to have ended up in the midst of the Sontaran attack. Where we want to be, not the situation we were hoping to find.” He wasn’t sure how it became like this, wouldn’t have guessed the Sontarans crashed and that UNIT had the area sealed off.


Well, not from him, obviously. UNIT couldn’t protect an area from his entrance. Very few could. The Doctor could get most anywhere he wanted.


~***~


Several things came together just from the stranger talking. The first was that he was not, in fact, human. As soon as he referred to her as ‘human’, she pointed her gun at him and followed his movements with both her eyes, and her gun. She stepped to follow him as he circled, but not quite as fast as him.


As such, she hadn’t turned fast enough to prevent him from patting her back, though the second she felt the contact she stepped forward and whipped around. She might have had words for him about that, but he pointed out a Sontaran. She took the man’s direction and pointed her gun at the Sontaran, and fired just as the creature did. Her vest took the blow, as her bullet pierced through his armor and hit home.


No, the UNIT outfit wasn’t exactly flattering. It fit well, but the armored aspects of it hid her form, and she was covered quite well by it. The only thing she’d ever refused to wear was a helmet, because she didn’t want her vision obscured.


The Sontarans utilized a sort of plasma energy to their guns. The energy of it was enough to destroy a human, but the vest she wore only caused her to stagger backwards a couple of steps. She took in a deep breath and shot the man a glare. ‘Thank you’ would normally be in order, but she couldn’t get the words out. “I’ll tell UNIT to consider giving us dresses and heels as uniform. I’m sure they’ll work against plasma bullets,” she said as she straightened up, clearly not intending to follow through with her words.


She shifted subject and tone immediately, though. “It’s impolite on Earth to demand things when you haven’t even introduced yourself. You won’t get far with that attitude, Sir. You may accompany me, and you may tell me what the hell you’re doing here, though.”


He was an alien, and that meant he was her problem. Better to keep him close.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

The child didn't move, which gave off the sign he wasn't exactly able to. John gripped his friend's hand back tightly, hurrying to his feet and rushing out with the other. The cool of night hit him like a gust of wind, the smell of fire and sweet honey dew nearby made him take in his surroundings the only way possible. He began to smell, and listen closely, as well as worry horribly for the child. He breathed in, and out, smelling flowers and trees and grass about his gentlemanly shoes. He could hear loud yelling, stomping and gun shots farther off, not near them, and just as he realized what was happening, the Doctor concluded it was true.


John knelt quickly, feeling the child's head with one hand, and slowly slipping one hand beneath his head, feeling his golden curls against his palm. He breathed out, eyes wide and a few stray coughs coming from him. "Doctor, he's not breathing." he whispered, his breath caught in his throat. This was scary for him beyond belief. All he could think of was his little brother...of him dying over and over again in his arms. Those green eyes, staring deep into his own. It was all he ever saw now. Just those eyes, and those tears. And how he couldn't save him. He wouldn't let this happen with another little boy.


He hadn't realized it, but he was crying again, too horrified of the situation. Perhaps he should try and control himself. He felt stupid for letting tears fall so suddenly, rubbing them away the best he could.


~~~


The Master quirked an eyebrow at the weapon, folding his arms and huffing. "Some way to treat a guest!" he grumbled, pouting at her. He watched her shoot the alien and turned back to her as she spoke. All he really heard was "Blah blah blah dress and high heals blah blah human blah blah impolite blah blah. Blah blah come with me blah blah hell." Holy smokes that was a lot to remember wasn't it! No not at all who are you kidding, the Master was smart, he could remember...


"Oh yes, human. I guess I have some explaining to do then. I am the Master, and I am going to follow you and then you are going to come with me." he pointed to his chest, smirking a bit more. "And then we are going clothing shopping, understand?" he huffed. It was like this human was more stupid then the rest. Who would have thought! They usually are stupid.


"Besides, I'm not sure your group of ninja, gun slinging, warrior men are going to like what I have to say one bit. So why dont we just get through with this mission of your's and be on our way?"


Oh this one was feisty, and he liked it. He licked his lips again, his eyes surged into a sort of...snake like slit, before returning to normal with a few shakes of his head and a few blinks he took. "Now then, lead me!" he said, prodding at her.

 

[Lucyfer]

John’s panic wasn’t helping the situation. The Doctor had assessed the child wasn’t breathing on his own. “He’s going to be fine, John,” the Doctor spoke calmly. Perhaps it was his familiarity with death that kept him calm, or else his unending optimism that he could do something to stop it.


The Doctor placed the heel of his left hand on the child’s breastbone, near the center of the chest, and put his right hand on the child’s forehead. It had been a while since he had to practice CPR, but he had learned it—he was a Doctor after all, damn it. He pressed down, hopeful he wouldn’t break the ribs each time that he did, but knowing it was a possibility.


Still, better to break the ribs than let the child die. “Come on, come on,” he muttered to himself, but moved onto the next step after about ten. He wasn’t sure if that was the correct number, but he wanted the child to get air. Sure, it was important to push the smoke out, too, but the child needed air.


He tilted the child’s head back, lifting the chin with one hand while the other remained on his forehead. That hand did move to the child’s nose to pinch it shut just before the Doctor covered the child’s mouth with his own to breathe in, the mantra repeating in his head, over and over.


He really didn’t want this boy to die.


~***~


‘Master?’


Aria was going to laugh, until she remembered that name. That name had a very long history of causing chaos on Earth. The smile that had arisen at the audacity didn't fade, but the laugh didn't escape her, either. 'Great.’ And she didn’t have handcuffs with her, because she wasn’t expecting to take any prisoners. Why the Master was to be arrested and not killed on sight was beyond her understanding, but those were the rules.


At least he was following, “Sure,” her enthusiasm for clothing shopping was non-existent. “Whatever you say, Master.” Humor him. Get him to someone with cuffs later.


She turned when he directed her to lead and started to walk off, making a lazy gesture for him to follow along since her mission was to clean the area out of aliens…well…sontarans. “The mission’s simple if you want to be useful. Eliminate all sontarans.” There was no negotiating, and no mercy to be spared. From what she’d heard of the Master, his specialty.


That wouldn’t exactly bode well for later, but she’d figure it out then. She made her way towards the sounds of chaos.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

The boy was still through the posses of the others pressing down and up and down. His little lips spread each time the Doctor pushed down on his scrawny chest, air rushing from them. It seemed like hours, John held the limp boys hand, cradling it in his own and staring at nothing in terror of what might happen. If the child will die. He felt the boys finger twitch and all hope was restored. He breathed out in excitement, his eyes widening and a smile pricking at his lips.


The boys frame jerked a moment after the doctor pushed the next breath out, his mouth opened wide and he let out a strangled little wheeze, before violent and struggling coughs that continued for a few minutes. The boys bright green eyes were open, and he stared into the two men's faces. "D... Daddy~" he whined out, grubby, sweaty little hands pawed up into the air for the Doctors face. John slowly pet the boys warm, dirty face and breathed. "It's alright, child." he cooed softly, having a way with children. "Come now, let's get you up." he picked the boy up slowly, cradling him in his arms.


"What now?" he asked the other quietly, petting the tired boys head and letting him cling to his hair and his beard. "Where do we bring him?"


~~~~


He could tell what she was thinking by the way she suddenly complied with each thing he spoke. She knew him. A devilish smirk crossed his lips and he giggled to himself, trotting towards her again and looking around with curious eyes as the disaster continued. What beauty.


"Sooo...." he said quietly, folding his hands behind his back. "It seems I've been looking for a little friend of mine, have you seen him resently?" he asked with such a gruesome smile. He came closer. "I'm sure if you recognized my name, then you know who he is." he looked her over with a look of judgment.


"of course, I never thought he'd be interested in such a dull girl before. Or was he even interested in you? I don't think so. Maybe you were just a toy once or twice? Yes that's it." he grinned.


"Or maybe someone's been reading earth history books. I never had a taste for them myself, though they are filled with such death." he grinned a bit.


What he was trying to get at was who she was, not that it mattered to him. He did need to know who he was stealing though.

 

[Lucyfer]

Relief let color return to the Doctor’s face when the boy jerked. He righted himself quickly and almost laughed with that emotion of relief when the boy began to cough. He smiled gently instead, pleased, though it faltered when the boy reached for him and called him ‘daddy’. “Er.” He leaned back, but John took care of it—somewhat.


He helped the boy stand, and the Doctor followed suit. He considered John’s words and looked back at the burning house, “Well, we can’t put him into the TARDIS right now,” it was probably surrounded by fire. “UNIT might be around here somewhere,” he glanced around, but in this area he saw no one of UNIT. “Nor Torchwood,” no, Jack had disbanded that and gone off. The Doctor didn’t know where he was anymore.


The Doctor looked down at the boy, “For the moment, he’s safest with us,” he hated to say that, considering how unsafe it was. So many people died around the Doctor. He saw that reality. “We’ll figure something out for him after this.” Maybe the boy had other relatives he could go to, or…something. “We need to find the Sontaran’s weapon and disable it, then deal with them.” He hoped he could get the Sontarans to just go home, but he doubted it. It never worked out that easily.


Little did the Doctor know the wreck of the ship had already disabled the major Sontaran weapon. “Doctor!”


And he looked and saw a familiar face in a beret, with another following her, though he was not in UNIT uniform.


~***~


‘Damn it.’ Despite not actually responding to the man’s name, her actions had given Aria away. He was aware of her knowledge. “The Doctor is late, if he is here at all.” She knew which ‘friend’ the Time Lord would be referring to. She had met the Doctor before. The two didn’t typically see eye-to-eye, considering their stance on killing differed so greatly. “Which is rather typical of him.” Always late. For a Time Lord, he was poor at judging time.


The Master’s words were bothersome. She tried not to let them be, but they were. Toy? Toy?! ‘Accidents do happen.’ And Lucy Saxon had killed him with a bullet to one of his hearts. A side-glance didn’t reveal any armor under that jacket of his, at least, none that she noticed. “Try reading the Song of Ice and Fire series. I think you’ll like it,” she latched onto his comment about books rather than his infuriating words.


Humor him. Just humor him long enough to get him in handcuffs, and complete this mission.


‘Or until you see the annoying ginger.’


That worked, too. The Doctor stood on the lawn, a boy and a man in tow. She raised a hand in a wave, called, “Doctor!” and was pleased when he responded to it by looking her way, clearly aware enough of his surroundings.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

Johnathan understood, standing slowly from his position on the wet grass. He groaned and a few pops came from his middle aged back, before he stood straight and popped it back into place. A sigh escaped him. The thought of... Maybe he was becoming too old for this. All this running, the danger. But he would never leave his best friend. Not for a million years. Slowly, Johnathan shifted the sleepy boy onto his right hip, adjusting his jumper a bit, before rocking the boy soothingly. There came two people, a womans voice came to his ears.


He nearly kicked the boys teddy, feeling the little furry thing next to his shoe. "Who is it?" he asked the Doctor, grabbing the child's half burned teddy from off the ground and handing it to him.


Robby seemed pleased with the action and nuzzled it tightly to his chest, cooing and drooling and sleepily hiding his face in the others neck.


~~~


Just as he cought sight of the two friends, the masters grin grew ten times, his snakish tongue licking his upper lip and his hands clapping together softly, almost to signal to the ginger and the blind man that attention was needed. "Hello, old friends." he said sweetly, walking in front of her and folding his arms. "I have to ask something though, Doctor. Did you two finally have a child? I didn't know human males had children. How disgusting." Johnathan's face turned to a look of horror and anger. "It's that snake again isn't it!" he blurted out in anger. The Master sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yes, old fool, you guessed it! Whoopty-do."


Johnathan turned red and grit his teeth, starting to pace like an old hound waiting orders. He growled and huffed. "You'd better restrain me Doctor. I want to box his ears again." he warned. The master snorted.


"Oh don't flatter yourself, you blind bat. I shot you once and I can always do it again." he looked over while the girl was distracted and grinned, eyeing her sword. "And besides, this is my new friend. Say hello to the ginger and the old man, girl!" he instructed, motioning to the other three.

 

[Lucyfer]

The Doctor knew he recognized the individual with Aria, and he looked to her, confused, as the Master overtook her and joined them. She shook her head, showing an exasperation he didn’t expect. Most humans tended to look afraid, or nervous.


She just looked done with him already.


The Doctor’s attention quickly turned to the Master, his expression souring at the man’s mocking words. “We found the boy,” he answered through gritted teeth. He looked at John, said, “Focus on the boy’s safety,” perhaps that would distract him enough to keep him from hitting the Master. The boy’s safety.


The Doctor didn’t really want the Master hit, after all. Despite it all, he still saw his old friend in the Master. It dwindled away each time he saw the crazed Time Lord, and he feared the day it vanished entirely. He feared what he might do to the Master on that day.


When the Master pointed out Aria, the Doctor asked, “What is he doing here?” to her, rather than him.


“Didn’t have handcuffs."


“Not that!” The Doctor pointed, “Here, in general, why?”


She shrugged, “No idea.” And she walked closer to the group, her gun still not put away. She’d heard the threat towards the old man and casually pointed her own at the Master once again, “Really don’t have time for chit-chat, though.”


“We do if he’s—Master, did you do this?” The Master had worked with aliens before to do things.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

Johnathan huffed, you could almost see the smoke that rose from his nostrils. He slowly began to relax when the other told him to worry more about the boy cradled in his arms then the nasty snake like man in front of him. He patted the child's bottom, rocking him again and glaring at the direction of the man. "Fine." he muttered, turning away and walking towards the distance, just trying to soothe the child's sleep gently.


The boy woke up though. That wasn't a good sign.


Johnathan listened as the boy pawed at the his chin, and his eyes fell to the white haired, red eye'd man in front of him. The Master tilted his head at the child and stared into his green eyes, a smirk slipped onto his lips, before it faded with the two people's little splurge of a conversation. The Master sighed angrily, eyes rolled, and he looked at the two. "Really, kids, lets not quir- what do you take me for!" He swirled to look at the Doctor, coming closer to him, poking his chest. "You think I would come here just to make a mess? I'm insulted!" he spat.


Johnathan jerked and glared in the direction of the two. He could hear how close to two were. He didn't like it. "Dont touch him." he growled. The child let out a whine, and the Master crooked his neck to look at the boy, an angry grin on his face. "Well, are you the little whiner." he hissed, coming closer to Johnathan. Johnathan backed up, gripping the boy closer. "Back up, you ugly pig." he shouted. The Master grinned, wide eyed, like he's gone mad. He grabbed Johnathan by the arm and got even closer. "Whats wrong, Johny-boy? You afraid of failing with this brat like you did with your bloody brother?" he whispered. Johnathan almost dropped the boy, whirling his hand back and smacking the man across the face.


The Master jerked and backed away, holding his cheek. "So much for a happy reunion." he mumbled.


Johnathan huffed, face red, sweat forming on his forehead, and his hands clutching the boy tighter. The little boy sobbed quietly, nuzzling closer to the warm sweater John wore.

 

[Lucyfer]

“You always make a mess!” The Doctor accused, “Usually, covering up a larger plan of yours.” He didn’t trust the man’s insulted act. For all his insanity, the Master could be a good actor.


As the Doctor made his response, Aria kept her eyes open and alert. She didn’t need to be here. She knew she could walk off to handle things, but it was usually a better idea to stay with the Doctor until the problem was solved. Sure, plenty died, but plenty also lived. He saved the world. Annoying as he was, he was well-intentioned, and usually knew more about what was going on.


The Doctor followed the Master when he dared to approach Johnathan. He reached for the Master when the Master reached for Johnathan, but John hit the Master first, earning a reaction that caused the Doctor to miss. So, he moved instead to stand between them. “Enough!”


The Master muttered something about a happy reunion, and the Doctor shook his head, a disgusted look on his face. “We’ll talk later.” He told the Master. He glanced back at John and the boy, and then tensed as a bullet shot by his head. It missed him, but he immediately glared at Aria. “What have I told you?!” A thud of a body behind him.


Aria just shrugged again. “The crashed ship is this way, Doctor, Master, uh….” She didn’t know Johnathan. She’d met a different companion.


“This is Johnathan, and…,” he didn’t know the boy’s name, “I’m not sure of the other. Not yet.” He then spoke to John, “John, UNIT is here, and the woman talking is Aria of UNIT, a, uh, what are you now?”


“Captain.”


“Of course.” He’d once compared her to Jack Harkness, not for promiscuity, but because of how often she shot first and asked questions later. "John, do you want to go find the rest of UNIT?" He wouldn't order him to, tempting as it was. It would put both John and the boy into safe hands. Maybe Martha was there. He didn't dare get his hopes up, though.


Aria stamped an impatient foot, irked by all this conversing.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

Johnathan was still frazzled by that snake, but when the Doctor turned to him and spoke to him, he quickly listened and complied, rubbing the child's head. "Yes I think that's a good idea. Those are the good people, correct?" he asked quietly, breathing out quietly and trying to restrain himself further from beating his walking stick over the Master's head for even thinking of touching him or the boy. He quickly grabbed the Doctors arm and looked in the direction of the woman, furrowing his brow. "I need to speak to him for a moment." he muttered, before pulling his friend away.


"Doctor." he began quietly, rubbing away the sweat on his forehead. "I'm not sure that being with him is a good idea. He keeps staring at the boy. I think he might hurt him. Even those soldiers cant control him for long." he whispered, shifting the boy again. He looked exhausted, tired, his breath was harsh and heavy. He wasn't exactly doing too well.


"But I will follow you like I promised I would." he whispered, sighing quietly. "Just keep an eye on him? I c-..I ant keep smacking him each time he comes close to me." he breathed.


The Master watched with a grin, his lips curled into a snarl, and his teeth poking from between his lips. He just stared with that ugly grin at the two, looking over both of their backs and how they talked. "It looks like I'm just the popular one tonight, hm." he chuckled, before looking back at the woman and eyeing her. The little boy let out a loud whimper suddenly, and John wearily looked down at him. The boy was looking up at him, his belly growled and he pawed at his sweater. "I'm hungry." he said quietly, his voice sweet and quiet. "Where's my mommy?" Johnathan looked a bit dizzy and he sighed.


"Hush, honey." he whispered, holding him closer and rocking. "I'll get you food."

 

[Lucyfer]

Aria nodded, though she was not pleased for further delays. She glanced to the Doctor and the man as they stepped aside, but then her attention snapped right back to the Master and the surrounding area. Someone had to watch for more Sontarans. “Yes you are, Master. You win Prom King.” Aria agreed with his sentiments, her mind conjuring up the popularity contests of school and how petty they were. It seemed to fit him.


The Doctor was pleased that Johnathan would leave them and take care of the boy. “I don’t really have much of a choice. It’s better to keep the Master in sight anyway, you know what he gets up to otherwise,” he caused chaos when he was around, of course, but he planned much larger and more detrimental things when out of sight. “I’ll be careful. I’m not the only one with my eyes on him….” That much was clear. Aria was paying them very little mind. She understood the threat…somewhat.


“I’ll come back as soon as I can, um, though, I guess I ought to help you find UNIT,” he frowned. That was when the boy woke up. Perhaps the boy could be a good lead?


The Doctor spoke to him, “Hey there,” soft tone, but still urgency in it, “There’s food where a whole bunch of vehicles are gathered.” He looked up, “Aria! Where’s UNIT?”


“Down Wister street,” and she made a motion, not sure which direction it was in words.


The Doctor looked back to the boy, “Wister street. Do you know it?” Perhaps the boy knew his own neighborhood. The Doctor could hope. Otherwise a detour would be necessary. Why did he always forget these things? He couldn’t leave John in an unfamiliar place. “There’s food where the military vehicles are down Wister street.” He didn’t want to promise that the boy’s parents were there. He knew they weren’t. He didn’t want to say anything on the parents right now. The boy should be fed first.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

The boy looked up at him, clinging to Johnathan tighter and nuzzling closer. "..." he looked frightened to speak, eyes wide. Johnathan softly rubbed his back. "Its alright, child. He wont hurt you." he promised softly. The boy looked from one man to the next, looking up at the Doctor as he spoke with such soft words. Finally he spoke up, his little eyes fixed on the Doctors. Those eyes looked so old, older then time itself almost. "...Daddy got nuggets on street." he said softly. Johnathan perked. "Chicken nuggets?" he asked the boy. The child smiled and giggled, nodding softly as the older man softly pet him. "Yeah, I like chicken nuggets."


"Do you remember where it was?" Johnathan asked. the boy nodded and wiggled slightly. "I know, I'm smart!" he said, wiggling his little bottom softly and looking around. "It has a big tree with a swing on it next to it." he pointed towards the street, sitting back in Johnathan's arms comfortably.


John nodded and smiled, sweat beading on his forehead again. 'Dont be so weak.' He jerked a bit, furrowing his eyebrow at the voice, before holding the boy closer. "Don't worry about me, Doctor. We'll find a way there. Just make sure he doesn't get away." He shifted the boy and smiled slightly at the boys general direction. "Now, whats your name?" he asked, beginning to walk away with him.


The Master smirked a bit as he walked away. "Bye bye, Johny-boy~" he called, before looking to the Doctor. He had smiled at the girls comment. What a sassy little human. He liked it. "Now, are we heading out already or is there some other old fool you want to talk to and waste all the time we have left." he growled, baring his teeth at the Doctor's general direction. "You really should get someone a bit more exciting, he's become boring you know. Its no fun to play with someone so idiotically old." he yawned and folded his arms. "I'd think you'd have your eye on a young girl like last time, but I guess that one just happened to burn up at the right time, if you know what I mean." he nudged at him, trying to pick on the other.


Before Johnathan, the Doctor had a younger girl, a bit tubby but who could blame her. She didn't exactly replace Donna, but she was a bit like her. She fell to her death while the Doctor and her ventured inside a volcano. Not much of an exciting ending. The Master picked on that instance once or twice, as well as how old Johnathan was, just to bug the hell out of his old friend. It was fun to see him snap back.

 

[Lucyfer]

Perhaps it had been too long since the Doctor had kids of his own. What was it now, somewhere around a thousand and some odd centuries ago? When he was two hundred, he had been a grandfather. He’d never really had kids after he stole the TARDIS and went adventuring. Not that he’d been the best at that, either. Susan and he got on well, but she was always antagonizing him about his lack of understanding sometimes, too.


‘Oh well.’


A fond smile still came to his lips as he saw how much easier it was for Johnathan. He understood the terms, and was able to give the boy enough of a push. “Be safe,” the Doctor said lowly, for John’s ears only.


John told him not to worry, and off he and the child went. The Doctor watched them for a few seconds, then turned back to his new group, made up of a Captain and a Master. ‘Not who I’d pick.’ Neither of them. This was what he had to work with, though.


“Oh, I think that’s all for now, Master, but I could find some more people. How much time do you have left?” He allowed a smirk to grace his lips. “Did the Time Lords put a limit on how long this regeneration of yours can live?” Actually, he still had no idea how the Master was alive. He’d not gotten that out of him, nor where Gallifrey was now, or if the Master had even gone to Gallifrey. So much about his presence was a mystery.


He was fine with John being boring. He didn’t want the Master to antagonize John. He wouldn’t say as much to the Master, though.


He was close enough for the Master to nudge, and he glared at him for his words, recalling that girl. “Stop it. Just, stop.” He didn’t want to remember. “Aria, do you mind? You said something about a crashed ship.”


Aria nodded, “I can lead to it,” she didn’t mind. With that, she turned in the direction the ship had gone down and started walking. The Doctor would follow, and would make sure the Master kept pace. He didn’t need the Master wandering off, even if he was getting on his nerves.


~***~


Down Wister street, UNIT and civilians were gathered. Martha was not among them, though other doctors were. The area around the vehicles was secure. Most were dressed in armor, though there was a man in a suit there. He leaned against one of the vehicles and watched the people approach, UNIT soldiers and civilians.


His hand itched to call for those in the field, but his phone remained in his pocket, much as his gun remained in its holster. He tried to appear calm and in control, though he wasn’t as much so as he’d like to be. He was new to his position, and immediately thrust into danger. ‘It will be fine. Plenty of experience around here.’ He cast his eyes around, catching sight of many of the faces he’d been familiar with.


He let out a sigh and brushed a hand back through his brunette hair, again repeating to himself that even if he didn’t know what he was doing, others did.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

The Master chuckled at the other's insinuations, but did not reply to his suggestions or inquires. He himself didn't care how much time he had left, since he had just recently regenerated. It wasn't a pleasant thing either, since he liked his old, strong form. He wasn't weak and thin, wasn't scrawny and bony, and definitely didn't have this horrid white hair, and this pale skin. He peered back at the other with those dark eyes. "Someone's touchy~" he cooed, before returning to gaze upon the ground before him. He just chuckled. "Well then, lets move on shall we?" he liked the trek towards the demolished crash site, quick and quiet.


Though...now and again, his hands would clench, and he would grit his teeth a bit. He was overflowing with jitters one minute, and cool as ever the next. Like he was overheated. Like he needed to run about and get all that energy out of his system.


Like a little boy waiting to play in the mud. He stared with a grin at the back of the girls head, fiddling with his coat's thick fabric. Just wait, he would think to himself, Were almost there. Then you'll have your fun.





Just as the reached over the hill, the man stretched and yawned, scratching his back and pulling up his shirt a bit to get a better reach. A small patch of irritated, burned skin came to view, like a torture mark. He just itched it, then shoved his shirt back over his baggy, sagging jeans. He peered back at the Doctor and eyed him, before scoffing and looking back in front of him. In reality, he was super jealous of his clean and sensible clothing. He himself had to do with what he could, baggy jeans and a teenager's shirt, a baggy old jacket and sneakers.


Oh well.


~~


Johnathan was breathing harshly, sweat slipped down his face, and he tried to fix his shirt, tried to fan himself to cool down. 'Look at yourself. Youre a mess. Disgraceful.' He choked on his air and closed his eyes a moment, swallowing thickly, before turning his head down at the boy, smiling slightly in worry. The boy was just staring at him, with those big eyes. The feeling of the boy staring at him frightened Johnathan slightly. He tried to turn away, but the boy kept staring. "So, where is this street then?" He asked quietly. The boy didn't respond for a moment, before reaching up and pressing a hand to the man's forehead. John froze, turning down for a moment. The boy's head tilted, and he stared straight into the man's pale, foggy eyes.


"I-"


"You are hurt."


Johnathan felt his whole heart quake, like God was speaking into his head, like something else was there, gripping his heart, ready to pop it. He stared at the boys lips as they moved. The voice sounded millions of years old...He felt his arms begin to weaken.


"I am not going to harm you."


Johnathan felt his legs give out from under him. He didn't feel himself hit the ground, but only the burning on his forehead. A small form, but what felt huge loomed over him. He struggled slightly, gasping in breathes, pawing at his chest. His heart tightened, he could hardly breathe.


"Shh...breathe..."





Johnathan's eyes were wide, and he trembled, mouth gaping and hands trembling. He wanted to shout for help, scream for the Doctor, but the boy- what was this boy?? The child couldn't have done this. He was only a baby. Something must be wrong with him.


"I am getting help."





The faint wailing of the boy was heard in the elder's ears, before everything went silent.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘Someone isn’t a sociopath.’


Well, that wasn’t correct. Not completely. The Master had a noise in his head, and the Doctor was certain it prevented him from having empathy or understanding. One day, he wanted to find a way to get rid of it for the Master, so he could be his friend again. He just didn’t know how. The answer was on Gallifrey, but Gallifrey was…gone.


They moved on, and in the midst of the neighborhood they came upon the crash light. “How did the Sontaran crash?” The Doctor asked it aloud, meant it to be rhetorical.


“Our doing,” was the response from the black-haired woman ahead. She sounded proud, of course.


“In the middle of a neighborhood?!” The Doctor wasn’t sure who he disliked more, the psychopath who couldn’t help his psychosis, or the human with the ‘end justifies’ type morals.


Well, probably her. He understood her. He’d done such things before. Just another shrug was the only response, before she turned to face him. “I suspect you want to go down there and talk to them?”


“Yes!”


“Well then,” her gesture told him to step ahead, and he did so with a huff, passing her by with evident anger.


‘How will I convince them to go home now? They can’t go home! I’m not taking them in the TARDIS…they’d just try to steal it….’ He’d have to figure something out. Repair the ships somehow, or convince UNIT to part with ships to get them back home.


Around the ship were plenty of Sontaran trying to liberate weapons and ammunition, among other things, from the wreckage. “HOLD!” One of them shouted at the group approaching, and the Doctor immediately put his hands up.


“We come in peace. Er, I’m the Doctor, this is the representative for Earth, and that’s…er…”


“Prisoner.”


“Prisoner. Ignore him.” He said of the Master. Other Sontarans began to look their way, and quite a few guns were pointed at them in that instance.


~***~


It was just far enough away to be ignored, but James Calwell saw a body hit the ground. He might have ignored it, considering their location, but then he heard the sound of a child wailing. He couldn’t ignore that. “Matthew!” He shouted as he pushed himself away from the vehicle.


The more sanely-dressed soldier quickly joined him, “Sir?” There was some derision in the term. He got the sense that Matthew didn’t think he belonged here, either.


“Come with me,” he directed, not explaining himself as he walked away from the safety line that was UNIT’s vehicles and out towards the sound and the body. Fortunately, they were together, and as James got closer, he could see that there were two individuals, one an older man and the other, perhaps, a son or grandson. “Shoot,” his pace increased, and Matthew jogged to follow after him.


The older gentleman was out cold, or so it seemed. “Help him,” James ordered, motioning to him.


Matthew didn’t hesitate, but walked over to the old man and knelt down, then started to move him to carry him, uncertain which way would be safest. If there was no protest, he intended to carry him over one shoulder and bring him back behind the UNIT vehicles.


James reached to take the boy’s hand without question, “Come with me, we’ll get you and your grandfather to safety,” he just assumed.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

The Master groaned in annoyance. "Oh come on! This is so ridiculously boring! Oh I have an idea!" He bounced around the Doctor and grabbed his hand. "Shoot him, take me back already and feed me! I'm s-ssoooooooo. Hu-ungry." He growled, twitching madly, before grinning and tipping his head. "Come on! Don't just take us all, I don't want to deal with him again!" he whined. "You are all blithering idiots, I hope you understand that." he growled at the group of aliens.


"Oh! Why not take the girl! I know I'm irresistible and all, but she's the sexually applicable one! Wait...what?" he blinked, before groaning as more men held up their guns. Apparently his blabbering wasn't working out this time. He groaned and rubbed his forehead, leaning on the Doctor's arm for support. "Its your fault if we all die, understand?"


But it was too late, the Sontaran's came closer and encircled them. "We do not wish to hear of your puny earth stories, only that we keep that bug under lock and key or we are all doomed." sprawled one. The Master perked and grinned. "Oh you think that highly of me then? I'm flattered!"


~~~


Johnathan was heavy in the other's arms, but the boy resisted the man and tugged on Johnathan's leg, wailing louder, his own hand reaching out and smacking James' shoulder. "Nooo! Gran'daddy!" He wailed, tears falling down his dirty face. He hiccuped, listening to what the other told him and slowly followed, rubbing his face. "Gran'daddy's hurt! His hearts hurt really bad! It's going really fast!" he whined, clutching the mans hand tightly. "Dont let gran'daddy die! I-I love daddy!"


The boy looked up at the other, sniffling and wobbling with him towards the cars. Johnathan's breathe was harsh against the soldiers clothing, his face sweaty and dirty, and his eyes opening like a slit once or twice. "Doctor! Doctor?" he breathed. The child stared as Johnathan was hauled into a medical vehicle and sniffled, before staring back up at the man. "Mister?" he pawed softly at his hand and tugged on it, wanting him to get closer.

 

[Lucyfer]

Aria’s hand twitched. She’d not put the gun away, though she had considered it when the Doctor walked up to the Sontarans. As the Master started blabbering, she was glad she hadn’t. ‘If you get us all shot….’ But watching the Sontaran’s expressions showed they saw him to be as mad as everyone else. His behavior wasn’t being taken seriously, nor his words.


That allowed some relief.


When he mentioned them taking her, she almost lifted her gun to him again, but the Sontarans did it for her, “Thank you,” she breathed out instead, but couldn’t help adding to the Master, “I guess they like you too much.” Since they hadn’t fired, and had them surrounded as if they were going to capture them all.


The Doctor let the Master lean on him, and gave him a dull stare that indicated he could not be serious about where the blame lied. His hand then found the Master’s and he gripped it, tight so the Master would stay in one place. He rooted himself to the ground.


“You want the Master?” The Doctor asked, wondering what he’d done to the Sontarans. “Why? What for?”


“Does it matter?” Aria inquired, “We’ll give you the Master if you’ll leave Earth in peace. You’ve seen what we can do.”


~***~


John was easily carried, and James pulled the boy along as gently as he could, but with urgency. “Your father will be fine,” was that the old man? So be it, then. “He’ll live.” He said as they walked on to the cars, and towards one of the medical vehicles.


The name, not the word, nor the demand, the name ‘Doctor’ slipped from the man’s lips and James decided to stay near the man when he was laid down. He didn’t need the child to insist on it. “Get him water, and find one of the doctors,” he instructed Matthew, who walked off.


The man moved the child’s hand towards Jonathan’s before releasing the child into his care once again.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

The Master's face fell just slightly, the look of terror filled his eyes for a split second and he stepped back while the gun was pointed directly at him. He felt his hand wag madly for somewhere to grip, and the Doctor's hand gripped his own tighter then he would have thought he would have done. He wasn't hiding. He was not a coward. No. He wasn't afraid, or something. Not at all...Not at all...


A strangled breath left his lips and he looked at the Doctor with a look of confusion and slight panic still. It was just a little left over, just a bit seeped in those red eyes of his.


"I am sorry for telling you this, Doctor, but you are in no place to keep our prisoner away from us, or to be asking any questions. Now, please release him to us and we will not bring any further harm to you other then your deaths. Dont worry, they will not be as painful as you think." He announced. The Master looked worried again, and his other hand snaked about his back, clutching at the burn there. As if afraid...no wait, he's never afraid. Don't be ridiculous...


~~~~


Johnathan felt himself slowly wake up, two doctors hovering over him. He felt himself being taken care of, and tried to stop them. He wasn't weak. He tried to sit up, feeling that child's hand on his. He jolted away, eyes wide, before being pressed back into the bed. The boy stared at him, before he gripped his hand again. Johnathan shook, trying to pull away again, but too weak to fight it. The boy's palm pressed into the other's warm and soft. He was frightened of him, of a little boy. "Pathetic."


"Its alright. I am not going to hurt you. I'll numb the pain of your heart attack." He said softly, the pain began to subside. Johnathan whimpered, eyes shutting tightly. The doctors looked him over, before softly injecting something into him, some sort of medicine, then hooked him up to some machines, tracking his heart rate and other processes. The boy slowly came closer after they left, his other hand reached over and placed on the man's chest.


"I am Robby." The being spoke into John's head. Johnathan trembled.


"What do you want from me? Are you this child?" he asked with short breaths, gripping the boys hand back. A soft chuckle came.


"No no, I am not a child. I am a being. Do not be afraid of me. I come to help." a burning came to Johnathan's chest, and he yelped, struggling softly. The child held him down though, the burning continued, until he let go. A dark mark appeared on his chest, burned into place. "W-what did you do to me??" he begged, tears forming in his eyes.


"Medicine."





This all appeared before James' eyes.

 

[Lucyfer]

Aria noticed these little things about the Master, even as she was taking in the rather dire situation. So, the Master was their prisoner. Escaped. ‘Interesting.’ Had they promised Aria her life, that would have complicated the decision, however they did not. Instead, they told her and the Doctor that they would be killed as well.


That made the decision rather easy. “Well, if it is just us you’ll be killing,” Aria stepped from her location, but held her hands up so that it was clear she wasn’t threatening them. “I think I can part with my prisoner.”


“What are you doing?” The Doctor asked in a hissed whisper when she approached and reached for the Master’s other hand.


“Trust me.”


They were not words the Doctor liked to hear, but he didn’t have much of a choice. “You can’t give him to them. They’re still going to try and take over Earth,” he wasn’t speaking loud enough for them to hear.


“I know.” Very simple, very blunt.


She pulled and the Doctor released the Master, but looked to the Sontaran, “Whatever he’s done, please, let me keep him prisoner, let me—you don’t understand his condition.”


‘Condition?’ Aria didn’t care. She said quite calmly as she walked towards the Sontaran who spoke and acted as leader, just loud enough for the Master, “I have a sword. If you value your life, you’ll want to take it when I let go of you.” But for the moment, she was going to pretend to hand over the Master to them, bartering Earth’s freedom even if it cost her life.


Or such was the game. The Doctor would try to negotiate otherwise, and he’d get other civilians of Earth killed.


Aria wouldn’t. She’d just get the Sontarans killed.


~***~


All the while, James stayed with Johnathan and the boy, and he watched and waited for Johnathan to be a bit more relaxed, and a bit healthier. The doctors spoke of his heart attack and were amazed he was still with them.


He cocked his head when the older man began to speak with fright. It looked like he was speaking to the boy who had gotten closer, either ignoring James or forgetting about him. James saw the mark burned into the man, and made sure to remain silent lest he gain the ire of the boy. He couldn’t move, nor could he speak. He had stayed behind to ask the old man of the Doctor, but now he hesitated to do anything.


‘I don’t know what this is.’ He knew there were plenty of aliens that took the form of humans, but he didn’t yet have the experience and knowledge to figure out things quickly.


Whatever the boy was, it was frightening. He'd have to ask others in UNIT, later.

 

[BadMasterYouJerk]

At first, the Master would think she were giving him in, like an idiot human she was. Didn't she realize? She would be killed too! He didn't let go of the Doctor's hand at first, but then slowly did so as he was tugged along. That wasn't fair! He didn't agree, but was too afraid to really speak. "Idiot w- ...o-oh...oooh..." he looked a bit embarrassed that he didn't think of that either, but when he was dragged closer to the dwarf sized alien, he began to shrink away, growling in slight defense. He didn't like this. He wasn't strong, durable like before. He was weak and idiotically small. Shorter then even Aria. It angered him.


The Sontaran came closer, a few lowered their weapons while the one came over to grab the Master. "Come on already, we haven't time for your pathetic time wasting!" he growled. Just when the Master was let go, he felt his other arm be grabbed by one of the aliens, and he swirled to grab her sword. He quickly ripped it out of her holster and hit the alien over the head with the blunt end, before stabbing another. He felt...powerful. His head began to throb and he growled, but kept swinging.


Suddenly, a jolt of electricity seemed to light up his head, and he howled in pain, collapsing a bit on the ground, his arms shaking beneath him. "IDIOT!!" he barked at himself, drooling a bit in pain, before dragging the sword up again. He held his head, another volt shooting through him. He shrieked and bucked, dropping the weapon. One of the aliens held a device in its clutch, pressing down a button or two.


~~~


Johnathan felt the pains disappear, seeping into the burn on his chest. The patch of burned skin slowly rose, healing, and disappearing as well. Johnathan slowly sat up, feeling his chest and letting out a breath. The child, or should I say, Robby, smiled, and looked at him with knowing eyes. He slowly turned, his smiled faltering as he stared at the man nearby. He had seen what happened. The boy growled and eyes lit up light green fire. He bared his teeth, ready to attack.


"Wait! Dont hurt him!" he cried out, grabbing the boys arm. The child looked behind him, blinking softly. "...he'll tell! He'll kill you! mustn't let him! H-he'll hurt the doctor!!" He shouted. Johnathan gripped tighter. "No! Please- Robby was it? Please, dont hurt him!" The boy whined, tearing up and backing away, trembling. "I wanted to help! I dont want to be hurt either!" he sobbed. Johnathan looked worried. The boy seemed like a knowing being at one moment, and then the next like a child in need of a hug and a kiss. He stood from the bed, breathing out, and knelt beside the boy. "Look at me."


He forced him to, looking into those green eyes. "I wont let him hurt you. I thought I was your Papa." he said softly. Robby's lower lip trembled and he began to sob, holding close to the other.