Soul's Shadow (Doctor Who - SI)

Part VIII (VII)

"Why are you doing this?" I breathed, glaring up at the Master with wide, desperate eyes.

Seeing those memories hurt in a way I hadn't awaited. Not even two whole years had passed since them, but so much had happened... I had changed in so many ways... Somehow I had convinced myself to have left the past behind for good, had thought I had just moved on. But the reality was different.

"Because it's fun," he stated with a mad gleam. "Because you walked in here like an idiot and thought you could interfere with my plans like it's nothing. No, worse..." He paused, giving me a condescending look. "As if they were any of your business."

I swallowed, my shoulders sacking together. He was right. I had just ran in here, without knowing anything, only because...

"I just wanted to leave everything behind me," I muttered, realizing the whole ordeal was simply my poor attempt at running away.

"Sweet." The Master pursed his lips. "Another one who got fooled by cute promises of stars and time. You'll have none of it, ape." He chuckled and stabbed a finger at my chest. "I'll keep you as leverage, in case our friend tries to sabotage my plans. And you..." A pitying look wandered over me. "You go and make me some tea."

Suddenly all tension just dropped from my soul and left me weirdly light and empty, void of the gnawing feelings that had clouded my perception and had twisted my guts.

Perplex I blinked at the Master.

"Tea?" Somehow I had awaited he would try to torture me some more.

"Yes. And don't dare to spoil it."

"Then make it yourself," I grumbled, folding my arms.

He glared at me, contempt slowly merging into surprise. "You-" with a foreboding tone he bent down a little, locking eyes with me - "go now and make. Me. Tea."

Prick

I narrowed my eyes at him, staying in place with crossed arms. "Make me."

A single eyebrow shot up as the Master straightened. "Actually... that was exactly what I was trying to do. Peculiar."

Only then did it dawn on me. He had tried to use more of his hypnotism on me. And - as susceptible as I had been to it before - now it simply did not work. I closed my eyes for a mere second, listening within me to find the fear he had instilled there, but it, too, was gone.

The TARDIS' gift.

But if this was what she had done, then I still had no clue what triggered the memory effect just now. It also didn't help that I was still a prisoner with no way of informing the Doctor or to make the Master repair the TARDIS.

"Well, since I can't directly command you, I'll just force you with other methods." The sweet, almost charming tone was back. Quite as if I were supposed to be happy about that news. "Chopp Chopp. Go and make tea." He clapped his hands and waved me towards the kitchen. "Otherwise I'll get creative."

I sighed, more annoyed than actually scared. "Whatever. You get your damn tea. 'M more of a coffee drinker though, don't expect it to be any good."

The nasty grin told me there would not be any pleasant consequences if I made my threat reality. But I really wasn't in the mood for games and just rushed to the door and into the small kitchen. It even had an oven and a fridge.

Have those been there before?

Perplexed, I stayed in one spot for almost a minute, glaring at the devices. There hadn't been so much space just a few minutes ago. Those wouldn't have even fitted in here. Had I been too occupied by the induced fear to overlook them? But how... No. No, I was just imagining things. Rooms didn't just change out of nowhere.