Soul's Shadow (Doctor Who - SI)

Part XIV - Urban ghosts

"This book mentions a planet called Isz... da.... Iszdareth," I said, trying to pronounce the name in the book I held correctly. "It's said to have had many dragon sightings in its course of history, so maybe we'll find out more about the little one, there."

"What kind of place is that?" asked Donna curiously and watched over the Doctor's shoulder to look at the screen.

He activated the controls and manoeuvred the TARDIS to our destination, wheezing and tumbling assured.

"Bet you'll like it." He shot up from where he had landed on the ground, all grin and excitement. "It's a rural area in the mountains. Lots of farm lands. A small city is nearby and they are said to have quite the impressive archive. You know, like a library but digital."

"Oh, yep, sounds awesome. Hope they'll have a few good crime novels."

"Uhhhh.... Prooooobably not. But I have an idea for that... afterwards." The Doctor clapped his hands together and beamed at us. "Alons-y!?"

"Auf geht's!" I called.

Donna looked at me. "Was that German?"

"Yeah. I lived there for a while."

"Oh. Neat. Let's go!"

"Please don't come back," grumbled the Master from his corner of the console. He was busy fiddling with a pyramid shaped device that was somehow responsible for whatever the TARDIS was pranking him with again.

"Weeeeell... actually..." The Doctor rubbed his neck. "You need to come with us."

"What?!" The Master almost bumped his head against the console when he shot up. "I'm not going to run around with you idiots!"

The Doctor took a cautious step backwards. "There's... a malfunction I haven't quite figured out yet. Can't leave you on your own with that. Might be dangerous..."

The other Time Lord knitted his eyebrows together and then grinned all of a sudden. "Ah, I see. You're scared I might break your seal and run away on my own."

"Tha... that... I never said that!"

"It's written all over your silly face, dear Doctor."

"Aaaanyway... you need to come with us. You too want that dragon to grow, don't you?"

The Master threw his wrench to the floor and stepped into the other one's personal space, tapping against his chest. "I won't help you play hero."

"Didn't demand that. Would never." A happy grin formed on his face. "So, you coming?"

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

Donna stemmed her fists into her hips. "Well, I'm not going to stay here just because of you. So you better behave yourself."

The Master rolled his eyes. "Be glad the Doctor would know it was me if you would go missing all of a sudden."

Donna's mouth fell open. "Was that a threat? Did you really just threaten me, you grump?"

The answer was a wide, dangerous grin that made Donna look even more indignant. And as if she could hardly contain herself from slapping him - hard. A tiny part of me really wanted to see that happen and I had to suppress a grin.

"Can't you just put him in a cell or something?" Donna glanced at the Doctor.

"Like what?" spat the Master. "Like some fucking animal?"

"Certainly not like a decent human being!"

"Well, I'm not!" He glowered at the red head. "I'm far above you, as is he!" His finger snapped in the Doctor's direction. "So who should be put in a cage?"