Soul's Shadow (Doctor Who - SI)

Part XVI (III)

A long patch of silence fell over the group. The Master didn't look pleased, despite the stunned reaction. No, to me he looked and felt just... tired. This hadn't been a speech of motivation, it had been one of contempt.

"Clearly not a pacifist then," Cobb murmured, coughing awkwardly. "Come. You might want to have a look at something."

We followed his hand-wave to a table in the middle of the room from which a hologram emerged. A technology that still impressed me, even though I had seen them a few times already. Earth didn't seem to find the right method to reproduce those yet. This one showed a map of sorts, a path through the corridors maybe.

"Does this show the entire city, including the Hath zones?" asked the Master, studying the map.

"Yes. Why?"

Donna nudged the Master. "This'll help us find Martha."

"Wrong," he answered sweetly, smiling even. "That brat can take care of herself, believe me. And if not... no loss for me."

"We've more important things to do anyway," said the general, before Donna could voice a protest. "The progenation machines are powered down for the night shift, but as soon as they're active, we could breed a whole platoon from you three."

A quick look from me landed on Jenny. "No thanks. I really don't want anyone with my DNA running around."

Donna also looked not very pleased. "I'm not having sons and daughters by some great big flipping machine." She scowled and waved her hands over the people around. "Sorry, no offence, but you're not... well, I mean, you're not... real."

The general gasped, looking us up and down. "Ground-born then. Never thought I'd see some in my time of service."

Jenny scoffed at Donna, nodding in the Master's direction. "You're no better than him. I have a body, I have a mind, I have independent thought. How am I not real?"

Donna gave no answer, obviously digging for the right words. The Master did it for her. "Because you're nothing but a set of data. You have no own experiences, no own opinions and wishes. Maybe you're flesh and blood and maybe you're real people. But you're just... wrong."

"Oh, that was a little harsh," Donna mumbled.

The Master rolled his eyes. "As if that isn't what you thought too."

Jenny's lip quivered slightly, but then she held her head high. "Might be all true. But we do make our own memories. With time. Same as everyone else. We only start a little later. So what makes you better than me?"

"Well said, soldier." Cob nodded appreciatively. "We need more like you, if ever we're to find the Source."

The Master took the opportunity to ignore the girl again. His attention returned to the general. "Source? Source of what?"

"Did they teach you nothing?" He shook his head. "The breath of life." And when the Master only raised an eyebrow, Cobb continued, "In the beginning, the great one breathed life into the universe. And then she looked at what she'd done, and she sighed."

Jenny smiled. "She. I like that."

"A creation myth," said Donna, head tilted.

"It's not a myth. It's real." The general regarded her with a strict look. "That sigh. From the beginning of time it was caught and kept as the Source. It was lost when the war started. But it's here, somewhere." He waved at the map. "Whoever holds the Source controls the destiny of the planet."

At that the Master nudged me, smiling like a mischievous school boy. "See? I told you there's something to get from here."

I couldn't help but grin back, but then noted, "They have no clue where that Source is, though."