Soul's Shadow (Doctor Who - SI)

Part XVI (IX)

"Oh, I hate you!" groaned Martha as she heaved herself from the ground. There were stains of mud all over her clothes and her face showed clear signs of exhaustion.

"The pleasure's mutual," grumbled the Master. "I had hoped those Hath would eat you. But I guess their taste is better than that."

Martha huffed out a bitter laugh and let a look wander over the rest of us. "I'm more surprised that you all are still alive." She thumbed towards the Time Lord. "With that company."

"Oh, we can take care of ourselves," Donna defended, starting a staring contest with the Master.

"I saved your bloody life at least six times, human!"

"And five of those were you restraining yourself?"

The Master grimmased, which Donna skillfully ignored. She was happier giving him a cheeky smirk instead.

Jenny kept silent and only observed the new woman she didn't know yet. Martha broke the silence then, before it could stretch.

"I was sure you'd abandon everyone and take over the place. That would have suited you."

"The thought definitely crossed my mind."

Luckily, the situation couldn't escalate. The little word battle between the Time Lord and the women was suddenly interrupted by another set of steps. Someone else was pathing their way through the thick plants. And they weren't very good at keeping quiet.

"You there, Martha?" a man's voice called out. A familiar one. "Blimey, that's a lot of plants. Where are... Oh! There you are."

In sight came no one other than the Doctor. Holding his hands up to brush big leaves out of the way, he stumbled through the miniature jungle. His face lit up like a light bulb when he spotted us.

"Donna! Lucy! Master! Oh, you have no idea how glad I am that you're safe. Knew you'd make it, of course, but it's still great. Martha here phoned me. Was a bit of a shock, honestly. You should have waited. No adventures without me."

"Is that your only concern?" Martha gasped. Her finger stabbed towards the Master. "He's on the loose! Who knows what he's already destroyed, and how many he's killed."

The Doctor rubbed his neck. "Uh, yes... yes, of course. Horrible thing that. We'll get back soon and uhm... talk. Yes, thats..." He coughed awkwardly, avoiding everyone's gazes. Then his face morphed into a grin. "So, what did you find out? I heard there's a secret in here? Oh, and you, of course, young lady. Hello, I'm the Doctor."

Jenny stared at him, not twitching a muscle for some seconds. "Father said you'll have a look at me and see that I can travel with you," she blurted out, childish enthusiasm mixing with careful hope.

"Stop fucking calling me that!" snapped the Master.

The Doctor paled. His hand sunk down and he looked the girl up and down. Donna and I answered his questioning looks with shrugs and nods. None of us knew what to say.

Except for Jenny.

"But... I was made from you."

"So it's true." The Doctor's voice was barely more than a whisper. "Martha told me, but... You can't be. Can't be a... Does she have...?"

"I don't care how many hearts she has." The Master was fuming. "We both know there is much more to a Time Lord than that."

The Doctor hummed and produced his Sonic from a pocket. The blue tip wandered over the girl, then over the Master. "Not quite... but similar. Very... Can't use the same genome, but this... Altered just enough."