Walk The Earth: Doctor Who/Studio C [Book 2]

The Great Decimation

The Great Decimation

"Remove one tenth of the population." -The Master

A/N: So you probably noticed there was no update yesterday. That's because this whole 'violence' thing is kinda getting to me and the muse has gone on strike and demanded a steady diet of fluff, fluff, and more fluff until it agrees to work on this again. So updates here are slowing down for a bit and some random stories might be popping up in its place (a short Mattory AU, haven't decided yet if I'm going to keep it as a oneshot or expand it into a multi-chapter fic yet; along with a Luke-centric spin-off of Ridiculous are both in the works). I'm not abandoning this story! Just know updates will probably be sporadic for a while.

On the planet below, Matt fought back a shudder and focused on the tiny, dirty screen hanging in the corner as four Toclafane appeared around Winters. Come on, Doctor, come on.

"You're not the Master."

"We like the Mr. Master."

"We don't like you."

Then, of course, the Master's voice sent a chill up his spine. "Oh, all right then! It's me! Ta-da!"

"What in the world is he doing?" Jason asked under his breath.

Then the President died.

"I told you," Matt said to Adam and Jason's horrified looks, but he felt no sense of vindication, only the cold grip of dread.

The Master's frame filled the screen. "Now then! Peoples of the Earth, please attend carefully."

"Stop this!" the Doctor yelled. He might not have been in the frame, but just like the Master, Matt would have known his voice anywhere. "Stop it now!"

"As if a perception filter's gonna work on me. Oh, and look... it's the girlie and the freak. Although, I'm not sure which one's which."

He lifted his screwdriver—no no not that anything but that—and a bright beam of orange light burst from the tip.

"Oh, do excuse me. Little bit of personal business. Back in a minute."

It was hard to hear what was being said, but Matt caught snatches of conversation—Richard Lazarus, something about a hand, a hundred years.

He saw the aged Doctor, and Mallory—oh, she was still alive, but for how much longer?

When Whitney, Jared, and James appeared, he had the distinct feeling they were in a handbasket heading down a road paved with good intentions.

"Is it time?"

"Is it ready?"

"Is the machine singing?"

"Two minutes past." The Master filled the screen once more. "So! Earthlings. Basically, um... end of the world. Here! Come! The drums!"

The Earth shook. Reality tore. The hair on the back of Matt's neck stood on end as the air was suddenly a little too thick, the colors a little too dull.

He was out the door as the first Toclafane soared into view.

"We have to go." His words were strangled and hoarse.

How had it come to this?

"Go where?"

It was fight or flight, and there was no hope to fight. It took every ounce of will to not move for cover already and to look back at Adam and Jason. "Somewhere they aren't," Matt snapped.