mydadsthedoctor | 050 - [Voice/Private to the Doctor/Unhackable]

[She stops and just looks at him for a moment, taking in his face, her own holding confusion ans complete seriousness. She could figure it out easy enough that obviously something was wrong about this Master character.]

Dad, what's going on?

Jenny...

[He says this very seriously, looking her square in the eye.]

I've known the Master for many, many years. He's not...bad - well, he might be, a bit...No, no, no not bad so much as a little... Not completely right in the head. He's stone cold brilliant, mind you. Always has been. And he's very much a people person.

But that's why you've got to listen to me. Whatever you do, don't let your guard down. Say as little as you can. Don't give him any important information that he might be able to use against you. He's dangerous because he's so charismatic. I'm not sure exactly what he could get up to here, but I'd advise you that it might be best not to trust him.

[The Doctor sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose.]

Let me deal with him first. I'll be keeping an eye on him for a while, to make sure he's not up to any of his old tricks. If he does prove to be trustworthy and perhaps a useful ally to our getting out of here, then you can listen to him as much as you want. Until then, I'm telling you to be extremely careful.

[She's silent for another moment, but is even more serious now.]

What kind of important information shouldn't I give him exactly?

Who you are, exactly, and the identities of anyone close to you - myself included. If he finds out you're my daughter it might put you in some very grave danger. And even if he doesn't set out to explicitly hurt you, he might choose to harm you in the process as a means to get to me. He's not above manipulating people for his own personal gain either.

[He's really hoping she understands this.]

[...Well this isn't good. She's actually going to start walking again as she replies. Mostly to keep her eyes off of her dad during her next words.]

So I should probably be extra on guard from now on then? [Just the way she asked that question and her actions alone say that it's too late to take back what she's said to the Master.]

[And the Doctor hurries to catch up. Now he's panicking - though he doesn't let it show.]

Please tell me he doesn't know you're my daughter. Because if I does then I suggest you don't turn your back. And from now on, don't listen to anything he says. I know that sounds awful, but you've got to be safe.

I wish I could tell you he doesn't, dad, but I didn't exactly know this information when I was chatting with him earlier. Also, not turning my back on him and not listening to him is easy enough now that you're telling me.

[Though she has to admit, it would have been nice to know this sooner.]

Yes, well, now you know. I wasn't aware you two had spoken, was a bit preoccupied myself making sure that he is, in fact, just as stuck here as everyone else. The last thing anyone needs is the Master fully capable of getting up to one of his usual schemes.

Oh, even without knowing him, I'm quite positive he's stuck just like everyone else. The Malnosso don't make anything simple. Not around here anyway.

[His stance relaxes slightly, as most of the panic washes away.]

An ideal situation would be to encourage the Master that it would in his best interest to work with us and help us come up with a way to get out as opposed to working against us - or worse. But I know that's quite a lot to ask of him. For the longest time we were the only two left in the entire universe and he still chose death over letting me help him.

So, what are the odds that he'll actually work with us?

Honest opinion? A billion to one. He's rather stubborn.

[Let's out an a exasperated sigh before speaking with obvious sarcasm.]

Brilliant.

[He shrugs, knowing the odds aren't good at all and he doesn't blame her for having such a reaction.]

Doesn't mean we should give up now, though. Right now he's relatively harmless. I say relatively, as even without any real weapons on hand his greatest tool has always been his mind. I'm sure with enough determination he could talk himself into something big that might result in complete and utter chaos.

However, I've managed to get back my sonic - more or less, certain things don't work right for some odd reason - but I haven't the foggiest if he'll be able to get his laser screwdriver. For all our sake, I hope not. But the fact I've got mine doesn't exactly bode well.

Underneath all that lip he's still a Time Lord like me - like us. He's going to have similar instinctive patterns. Since neither of us require much of the same necessities as the humans we should be able to look out for him just fine. Jack's dealt with the Master before as well, so I'm pretty sure he'll be willing to lend a hand if he were to stir up some trouble. But I'd reckon it'd be best if for now we kept all this amongst ourselves. There's no reason to cause anyone else worry - especially after that killing spree that just went on. This is between us.

[And he's realized he just went on a huge tangent and cuts himself off, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets as he looks off to the distance.]

Right. One other question though. Exactly how dangerous can this guy be?

Oh... Well... [The Doctor's face flickers a mix of worry and perplexity as he nervously tugs at his earlobe.] Blimey.

Single-handedly, he's fully capable of mass genocide. I've seen it. Like I've said before, he's got a lot of charisma. Once he's got people under his spell it's like they're his own private army, more or less.

Dad, there are a lot of powerful people here. We can't afford that to happen in Luceti, not that I think it would happen around here.

It's why we need to keep an eye out. Any signs he might be up to something we've got to be there to stop it before it escalates. Well, by "we" I more so just mean myself... Given that I've had the most experience in dealing with him and all. [He sighs - the current escape strategy he was cooking up will have to be tabled for now.]

Just you? What do you mean just you? You're not working alone on this.

I'm the only one who has even the slightest chance of reasoning with him. The less people involved the better. Last time I had others help with trying to physically stop him they all wound up in serious danger. I'm not going to put anyone through that again.

And I'm not going to let you do this all on your own.

[He stiffens for a second.]

You can help keep watch in case he starts something. But if he does, I don't want you jumping into anything. And no one is to know that he might be a potential danger - causing unnecessary panic is not something people need right now. Do I make myself clear?

Dad, this is Luceti we're talking about here. Most of the people around here don't exactly panic.

That may be true, but I still believe he's someone we can handle on our own. I'm not going to take him out just because he's done some awful things in the past. Would be rather hypocritical of me, come to think of it.

You're free to talk to him, in fact I'd like you to. He doesn't have to know that you're aware of who he is. Just so long as you're more careful with the information you divulge.

But - I should warn you... If you start hearing anything that sounds like some sort of drumbeat, I want you to tell me, alright? It's one of the things he's used to hypnotize people in the past.

[Her back still turned to him, she completely freezes, all her muscles instantly tensing at the mention of the drumbeats just before she turns to look back at her dad with a little bit of surprise. She hadn't been expecting him to mention anything like that.]

Drumbeat? What kind of drumbeat?

[Her reaction doesn't sit well with him at all, and he's almost hesitant to explain further.]

It's a rhythm of four - almost like a Time Lord's heartbeat. I haven't heard what he's hearing, but he was able to replicate it into a subliminal phone signal. Was able to find it that way - it was how he won the Prime Minister election on Earth. But that's so very much him. Forcing people to partake in his own madness.

A rhythm of four...[She kneels down to pick a couple rocks up and starts tapping them together the moment she stands back up. One two three four, one two three four, one two three four. The beat was exact. Not as if she were trying to get an idea for the sound, but as if she had specifically heard it before.]

Like that? [She actually looks slightly upset now, though she's obviously trying to hide it.]

[Those sound exactly like the beeps he heard coming off the phone, and the tapping Martha had been doing. Now he's worried.]

Yes... Exactly like that. Jenny, where have you heard that before?

[Throwing the rocks away, she brings her hand up and taps her head to indicate where she had heard it.]

It was an effect of an experiment on me, compliments of the Malnosso like usual. I think they were using the drums as a kind of trigger at the time.

[He's quiet for a minute, considering all this information.]

Well... [The Doctor chuckles grimly.] They're far more clever than I had been giving them credit for. They certainly have been doing their research.

Alright. If you hear it again, though, especially around the Master - I'll need to know. It might mean he's up to something again.

Don't worry, I'll be sure to let you know right away if I ever hear it again. Trust me. [After the first time, it was not something she took lightly.]

Edited 2010-04-22 23:03 (UTC)

Good. And as for the Master, best we can do is just keep an eye on things. I'd imagine he'll be much like how we were at first.

Right. So talk and keep an eye on him, just be careful doing it, yeah?

Exactly. And I'll have Jack do the same. Everything should be fine.

Alright. I imagine you want whatever information we get him to spill too, am I right?

Of course! Anything you find out that's even remotely relative.

Then I'll find out whatever I can. I'm sure I could get a bit out of him.

050 - [Voice/Private to the Doctor/Unhackable]

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