Doctor Who: Genetics (12th Doctor Adventures Book One)

Chapter nine

For Zedcorp, the loss of their subject was immensely troubling for the project. No subject, no experiments. Anchor were fired from their position at the company the day of the incident and Samantha Crowd 'resigned' from her position, though the choice was not of her own. Her superiors didn't want her leading the project due to her failure. They felt the project needed fresh eyes, the whole agreement infuriated her.

Today was her last day, the day given to her to empty her office. She pushed through the door of her office, flicking the light switch to her lift and began to walk over to her silver desk that was in the centre of the square room with no windows. Her desk chair had its back to her, as she got closer to her the desk the chair spun to the front and revealed a goatee bearded man with thin, greying hair. A smirk implanted to his face, it felt unnatural to Samantha.
"Dr Crowd, I've been watching you for a very long time and I believe you have something of mine."
"I don't think so." Samantha responded, feeling on edge by the presence of the man. She cautiously backed away from her desk, steadily making her way over to the security button. She reached to press the button when suddenly a beam struck the electrics and caused an uproar of sparks to fly out from the panelling. She screeched at the surprise of the mini explosion.

"Tut, tut. Why'd you have to do that? Now, I am just tempted to shoot you dead right there," he contemplated something which was obvious due to his head movement, "Maybe a few centimetres to the right. I'm flexible." In his hand was an odd looking device, not too far off the Doctor's own. It had a yellow shader to its shell and the tip looked much more violent.
"What do you want?" She questioned, her hands now up above her own head in surrender.
"My blood, I let you have your fun with it. I watched my child grow up, now I am here to collect."
"You're too late. She's gone, taken by some Doctor. Cost me my job."
The man's teeth gritted at the name that had been spoken, his smile now removed.
"Did he now? He does have a manner of getting involved in others business."
"You know him?"
"All too well." His eyes were devoid of any emotion but hatred when discussing the Doctor, his Doctor. His enemy.

"Since he has taken something from me, I will take something from him. Tell me, Dr Crowd, would you be interest in a job? Full access to a Time Lords blood, advanced technology at your disposal. Wouldn't that be nice? No one to hold you back. A whole civilisation to be brought back to life. Your name in the history books."
"I have nothing better to do, but first tell me who you are?" Samantha interjected, her arms folding across her chest as the man leant forward over the desk.

"My name is the Master and today is the blossoming of a beautiful partnership. Trust me."