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Fic: A Good Day (or: The War in the Medusa Cascade). Chapter 1
I benevolently selfishly want everyone to read this, because I'm having such a blast writing it and want to share it with y'all. (It's been forever since I wrote the Master. And I've not even got to River yet... I'd forgotten how he just turns up and steals the show.) Please remember, it's made to work as a standalone. So, if you feel like taking a chance - please do! (I'm useless at self-promotion, as you can probably tell. But if you like the idea of Eleventy & the Master...)
Also, since posting the Prologue, the very talented![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
the_redjay created a beautiful banner & icon for me. Which has the added benefit of showing you what the Seeker looks like. :)
Master post for whole 'verse here.
Summary: "Why is it only ever the bad guys who have a proper plan?" The Master's son finally meets the Daleks. And he thought it a good day. (TSE/JE rewrite with Eleven and Clara and a host of extras.)
Setting: Future AU TSE/JE. (For the Doctor & Clara it's somewhere between Name of the Doctor and Day of the Doctor.)
Spoilers: Possibly some for Name of the Doctor.
Rating: PG-13.
Characters: The Seeker (the Master's son, OC), Eleventh Doctor, Clara, the Master, Jack, River, Roda (OC, belongs tothe_redjay), Davros, others.
Beta: The always lovelykathyh.
Feedback: Pretty please? I'm very curious to see what you think.
Dedication: This chapter shall be forflowsoffire as a belated birthday present!
Chapter 1
The TARDIS was serenely blue and beautiful, and the Seeker could feel her gentle ‘Hello’ as the faintest brush against his mind. He’d left only moments between the Doctor’s call and his own arrival (teleporting straight into the TARDIS was a neat little trick he always relished pulling off), and she was still parked where the Doctor must have landed - where Earth should should have been, but wasn’t. There was also a new Companion who smiled at him nervously, but before he could say anything the Doctor spoke - and not with the welcome he’d expected...
“Seeker - you look like you’re going to a funeral! What happened to that lovely purple coat of yours?”
Glancing down at the perfectly presentable combination of white shirt, pirate-y black coat, black shoes and trousers, he shot the Doctor a peeved look.
“I got dressed in a hurry, and black goes with everything. Plus, I’m not going to wear my favourite coat for saving the world. It’d just get ruined.”
“You look like a villain!”
(The unspoken words clear enough: You look like your father.)
The Seeker took a deep calming breath and smiled brightly.
“Well then, when we catch whoever stole the Earth we can do a Good Cop, Bad Cop routine. Also, it’s my pleasure to be here, no need to thank me.”
The Doctor shot him another half-grumpy look, and the Seeker almost wished he’d chosen something more colourful to wear, he could really have done without the Doctor in disapproving paternal mode (Stars above he hated conflict)... Except black was simple and effective. He wasn’t quite the clotheshorse he’d been in his previous regeneration, but he knew he cut an impressive figure, something he was keen to use to his advantage. And something which might come in handy today.
But the Doctor was not letting up.
“Well it’s only your childhood home, I thought you might be at least a little concerned...”
Forcing himself not to swear the Seeker’s smile faded.
“Look, I get that Dad upset you by being... well, himself. But would you very kindly stop taking it out on me? This is exactly why I always stay out of the way of you two - I invariably become the battleground, and I was already fed up with that when I was half a year old. How about instead of nagging me, you introduce me to your new Companion and we can do something productive?”
(Three hundred years and he was still ‘managing’ his parental figures. Surely they should move past it at some point?)
Looking somewhat chastised, the Doctor acquiesced.
“Seeker, this is Clara Oswald. Clara, this is the Seeker, the Master’s son. And not evil, despite the outfit.”
Clara was petite and beautiful, dressed in a green dress with a blue jacket on top, paired with black boots. A pretty outfit, but sensible and good for running. As he shook her hand, he couldn’t help noticing how small and fragile she looked, her worry and fear like a tight-knit cocoon around her (she was clearly a control-freak, just like him) - yet she smiled bravely and he knew she was probably equal to any challenge thrown at her. The Doctor chose his friends wisely.
“Clara Oswald, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise Seeker.” A slight hesitation, then she added: “Sorry, but if you’re a Time Lord, how is Earth your childhood home?”
The Seeker shot the Doctor a surprised look.
“He’s not explained any of that? Um... In brief, my father used to have a different face, and was known as Harold Saxon - you’ll remember him as the Prime Minister who murdered President Winters. I was born during a year that never existed - long story involving a paradox - and grew up on Earth, since my mother was human; and I had as normal a childhood as I could, everything considered. ‘Everything’ being the Doctor and my father both trying to bring me up. If I were you, I’d try not to picture it.”
She blinked at him. “Oh. He... never really mentioned any of this, just said that there were three other Time Lords out there.”
New companion, new start, and increased avoidance... It would certainly explain why it had been so long since the Doctor had visited. (Madam Vastra had called once, saying she and the rest of the gang were looking after the Doctor after a bereavement. He’d been ginger then, and preoccupied, and gratefully left them to it.)
“I’d be hurt, except I got my own place a long, long time ago and am a bit of a hermit, truth be told... But then I’m a scientist at heart and I like building things, which takes time - hence creating my own planet, and that was just the beginning. Also I’m not fond of the running, but make an exception now and again; like now, for instance.” He smiled as he saw some of the tenseness shift, and - knowing that the most important thing right now would be hope - added:
“What do you say that once this is all over, and Earth is back where it belongs, you come visit me? My planet is beautifully tranquil - it’s basically a copy of Gallifrey, but without all the Time Lords, obviously... Tell you what - make sure you time it for early spring, then you can witness the migration of the singing fish: it’s like the whole world is made of music.”
She was now smiling back at him, and he could tell that she had - if only for a moment - forgotten their present quandary. Which was good, except he was acutely aware that the Doctor’s increasing agitation was about to erupt, so he got back to business. (He had every intention of keeping his promise however. It had been far too long since he'd had visitors.)
Looking out the doors, there was no doubt: Earth was most definitely gone. Snatched away as if by magic; vanished without a trace... Double checking all the Doctor’s instruments, his mind was busy ticking over with ideas and possibilities.
How? he wondered. How had it been done? The sheer scale of the thing sent shots of excitement through him. He’d played with gravity and black holes (had nearly sucked a whole solar system into his first one), had created/built/grown his own TARDIS (with Roda’s help), but this was different. Bigger. More ambitious.
The early-morning lethargy had by now been completely overtaken by curiosity and covetousness. He wanted to find whoever had done this and discover what they’d done, examine every part of it - and then do it himself... He could design solar systems, one step nearer to playing with the building blocks of creation-
Also he was getting lost in thought, and the Doctor would get impatient again. He looked up.
“Well then, go on Doctor - do you have a plan?”
The Doctor threaded his fingers together, brow furrowing, and the Seeker braced himself.
“I... Well I was thinking of going to the Shadow Proclamation.”
This was such an spectacularly sensible idea that the Seeker was reduced to momentary silent awe. Clara however looked confused.
“The what now?”
“Shadow Proclamation,” the Seeker explained. “Basically interstellar police. Doctor, I’m impressed. Although why not the Church of the Mainframe? This is right down their street.”
“Too many guns,” the Doctor muttered, and started to input co-ordinates, as the Seeker absentmindedly turned a few dials and pressed some buttons, so the Doctor didn’t have to keep going in circles. (He had - when much younger - been a trapeze artist for a summer, able to do a quadruple spin whilst keeping track of his orientation and position relative to the turning of the Earth - yet the Doctor’s twirling made him dizzy.)
“Guns?” Clara mouthed, looking even more thoroughly confused, and the Seeker shook his head.
“He’ll explain later I’m sure...”
“And we’re here. Come along now children!”
“I’m three hundred and nineteen,” the Seeker muttered under his breath, before following the Doctor and Clara - emerging from the TARDIS to find that they were faced with a cohort of Judoon aiming large guns at them.
The Seeker could tell Clara’s mild alarm as they all held up their hands, but as the Doctor began explaining their errand - in Judoon, which the TARDIS for some reason didn’t translate - he almost gave in to helpless giggles.
“What’s he saying?” Clara whispered, and the Seeker shot her a look, biting his lip.
“Basically - ‘Take me to your leader’.”
She clearly wasn’t sure whether to believe him.
“Seriously?”
“Just look at the silly grin on his face.”
When they set off, following the Judoon down a corridor towards wherever the ‘Leader’ was, Clara was fighting back giggles too.
“What’s so funny?” the Doctor asked, and the Seeker could only shake his head, before whispering ‘Ma ho!’ to Clara and setting them both off again. Being so wrapped up in his projects he tended to forget how much fun it was to be around humans... Really, he needed to get out more.
A little later they were shown into a large room, where a female Shadow Architect looked at them with ill concealed incredulity when the Doctor introduced himself.
“Time Lords are the stuff of legend. They belong in the myths and whispers of the Higher Species. You cannot possibly exist.”
The Doctor preened, obviously pleased.
“Well, yes, have been trying to lower my profile somewhat. Glad to see it’s working.”
He then jabbed a finger in the Shadow Architect’s general direction.
“However, we have a missing planet, so since you lot have quite a good overview, we were wondering whether you knew where it had got itself to?”
The Architect raised an eyebrow.
“You are not as wise as the stories would say, Living Legend. The picture is far bigger than you imagine. The whole universe is in outrage, Doctor - twenty-four worlds have been taken from the sky.”
Much to the Seeker’s gratification, the Doctor was momentarily rendered speechless. But he rallied quickly.
“How many? Which ones? Show me!”
“The locations range far and wide. They all disappeared at the exact same moment, leaving no trace.”
She tapped a console unit, and the names appeared, causing the Doctor to read them out loud.
“Callufrax Minor, Jahoo, Shallacatop, Woman Wept, Clom - really? Clom? Why would anyone want Clom?”
“All different sizes,” the Shadow Architect continued. “Some populated, some not, but all unconnected.”
“Oh please,” the Seeker could barely hide his disdain. “Anyone goes to this length, there’s something that connects them. We just don’t know what yet.”
Red eyes were frowning at him, but the Doctor laughed and clapped his hands together:
“What he said! Now, let’s try putting it in 3D so we can get a better look at what we’re dealing with.”
Projections popped into the air, the ethereal planets slowly turning in the empty space of the white room. The Seeker tilted his head, attempting to categorise them somehow, but the only common denominator seemed to be their disparity.
Then Clara spoke.
“Wait, Doctor - what about the Lost Moon of... whatever that planet was called where we had that picnic? And you told me how one of its moons had just disappeared?”
The Doctor stared for a long moment, then a wide smiled spread across his face and he jumped across to Clara and kissed her forehead.
“Poosh! The Lost Moon of Poosh! If planets have been taken out of time as well as space... You - Shadow Lady - are there any older reports about planets that have disappeared?”
“A few cold cases, but...”
“Tell me,” he demanded, adding them to the projection as she spoke. When he reached twenty seven, however, the hologram projection abruptly spun and tilted, the planets instantly rearranging themselves into the optimum pattern.
The Seeker felt as if someone had kicked him solidly in the chest, and for a moment was unable to even breathe.
The Shadow Architect was asking questions, and the Doctor was replying, which was good because the Seeker wasn’t quite sure what words were anymore.
He’d been right... there was a connection. And one so much bigger than he had suspected. The planets were not wanted for their own sake, but because they were pieces of an engine, the whole thing like a power house...
So much power, his mind was almost failing to grasp it. Slowly he made his way into the centre of the projection, letting the planets move about him, exquisite in their perfect equilibrium. They were without a shadow of a doubt the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. It was a little like falling in love, every part of him - mind, heart, soul; the very essence of him - filled with pure, undiluted enrapture. He’d not felt like this since he’d looked into the Untempered Schism.
As he slowly took on board the sheer scale of the whole thing, he reflected that he had never met anyone with a mind like his own - but the person who had done this was someone he knew saw the world the same way he did. And not just that, but whoever he/she/it was they made his own ideas seem small, and that had never happened before... They were someone with vision and ability to match.
~~~
Clara was tired. It had been a long day already, and there was supposed to have been dinner and interesting people, not the disappearance of Earth itself. (Her family was safe in the 21st Century the Doctor had said, and she hadn’t dare ask him whether he was lying. Right now she preferred a lie to the alternative.)
The Doctor was now busy talking to the weird Shadow Lady, and the Seeker was wandering around inside the projection as if he was in love, which made him a little difficult to approach - she had a feeling he’d go off on some technical tangent if she went up to him, rather than be chatty and fun like he’d been before. She sighed. Mostly she felt superfluous and worried and wished she could go home.
Seemingly out of nowhere (although she had probably just been lost in her own thoughts) another Shadow Woman appeared - younger, but still with those weird red eyes, although she looked sympathetic rather than snooty. She held out a cup and saucer.
“You need sustenance. Take the water, it purifies.”
Grateful, Clara held out her hands.
“Thank you. That’s... very thoughtful.”
But then the strange alien girl suddenly fixed her with an unblinking stare.
“You are the Impossible Girl. Born to save the Doctor. But not even giving your life will help save him from the pain today will bring.”
Clara almost dropped the cup in shock, staring back wide-eyed.
“How do you know that? What’s going to happen?”
The unnerving red gaze shifted to the Seeker, who was still mesmerised.
“Do not trust the man in black.”
Clara could feel her hackles rise. She’d been given warnings like this before, and it hadn’t been what it seemed. Cryptic Seers, they were not exactly helpful.
“Why?”
The woman turned back to her, holding her eyes, unflinching.
“He is his father’s son. This is the day he lays claim to his birthright. God save you.”
She left Clara with an acute and unhappy sense of foreboding, her mind spinning back to the events that had started the whole thing. His father’s son... But he’d been so nice - genuinely concerned, and amusing, and nothing at all like his father.
~~~
Earlier.
“How about something to eat?” the Doctor suggested, fiddling about with the controls on the TARDIS checking that something-or-other was still OK after the day’s adventures (they’d saved a world populated by odd multicoloured crab-like creatures who had called them Clarrrrra and Doctorrrrrrr and had expressed their gratitude in a highly elaborate dance), before suddenly jabbing a finger at her.
“Hah! Yes. I know what to do. We’ll go to the 22nd Century. Lots of nice places to eat, and we can also drop in on Jack... He asked me to stop by. You’ve not met Jack yet, have you? Oh, and you could meet Roda also - I seem to recall promising you that you could meet some of the other Time Lords? Although since there are only four of us, there’s not a lot to choose from, but Roda is a good friend... Right - Cardiff, here we come!”
But, as he put his hands on the levers to take them into the vortex, the door opened and a stranger walked in.
He was tall, with a neatly trimmed beard, and very well dressed - an expensive woollen coat over a crisp suit with matching tie, an umbrella over his arm and black gloves on his hands.
“Did someone say 22nd Century? How very fortuitous - that is when I need a lift to. 27th of June, 2134 to be precise. Five minutes to three if you please? Somewhere near the Houses of Parliament presuming this old junk box can manage it.”
Clara looked from the stranger to the Doctor, who didn’t seem in the least surprised - just deeply, vehemently annoyed. She knew that look, but had rarely seen it descend with such swiftness and intensity.
“Master! I’m nobody’s taxi service. I won’t-”
“Of course you will, stop complaining. If nothing else to get rid of me. Is that a new coat?”
He studied the Doctor, raising a single eyebrow that managed to convey disdain, arrogance and ridicule all in one:
“What are you aiming for this time? Willy Wonka? As if having the face of a twelve year old isn’t bad enough, why must you insist on looking like you stepped out of a Disney film? Complete with your own Charlie, winner of the Golden Ticket.”
He turned to Clara and cast a swift, dismissive glance over her before pulling a face.
“Is she new? A new pet to go with the new coat? She looks... shorter. Than the last one, I mean. And less shouty so far, which is an improvement. Although I presume she’s overflowing with morals and good intentions and bravery the way they all are. So bloody monotonous. What happened to that wife of yours? She at least was interesting.”
Leaning heavily on the console, the Doctor tiredly held out a hand, waving it in the stranger’s direction.
“Clara. This is not a Time Lord I was going to introduce you to, but here goes. His name is-”
“- the Master. I’m the Doctor’s arch nemesis. Feel free to look frightened.”
He was leaning on his umbrella now, gloved hands grasping the handle and a superior smile on his face, and Clara decided that she really, really didn’t like him. He seemed to have gone out of his way to tick all the boxes that said ‘creepy villain’, and she turned to the Doctor, puzzled.
“Sorry, but - if he’s your arch nemesis, why is he expecting a lift?”
”We... have a truce,” the Doctor replied through gritted teeth. “Which depends upon him not going around killing people or trying to take over the world... Tell me, Master, what exactly are you doing in the 22nd Century?”
“Why Doctor, I was going to let it be a surprise. Besides I have every faith in your ability to work it out for yourself. Eventually.”
The two Time Lords studied each other silently for a long moment, before the Doctor abruptly set the co-ordinates and a few bumpy moments later they landed.
“Fine. Here you are. On your merry way then.”
Clara had a feeling that as soon as she was out of the way the Doctor would be on the Master’s trail, and she wasn’t about to complain. He reminded her of The Great Intelligence, although with more snark - she’d be happy to never meet him again.
The Master, however, opened the door, stood stock still, then turned.
“Doctor. You seriously need to have a look at that navigation system. You could get Roda to help you, she must be bored stiff at Torchwood as I’m... too busy to terrorise her at the moment. Of course she is a lawless, barbaric, violent pest, but she has more engineering skills than you could ever hope for. Which isn’t saying much, but this is getting ridiculous...”
“What are you taking about?” the Doctor asked querulously. “We’ve landed. Get out.”
“In one word: No!”
The Master stood back and held out a hand towards the empty star-scattered space outside the doors.
Looking up from his instruments, the Doctor’s face clouded over.
“That can’t be right.”
He studied the screen again, and then stalked forwards.
“But everything is correct. I don’t understand...”
“Well colour me stunned,” the Master observed sarcastically, before making his way to the console, carefully walking around and checking all the instruments before letting his eyes scan the screen.
“Well I’ll be damned... More than I already am, I mean.”
The Doctor turned, staring from the Master to Clara, eyes wide with incomprehension and mounting panic.
“It’s gone! Earth. It’s just... gone!”
A sudden grin spreading across his face, the Master began chuckling.
“To lose one planet, dear Doctor, may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose two looks like carelessness.”
In a few long strides the Doctor was in front of him, nose-to-nose.
“Was it you? Did you have something to do with this? You were very specific as to the timing...”
Trying to curb his evident amusement, the Master shook his head.
“I swear- I swear on my son’s life that I had no idea. Pazithi Gallifreya, I wish I did, or that I’d thought of it. The look on your face...”
He creased up again, helpless mirth overflowing until the Doctor grasped him roughly by the arm and propelled him down the stairs, their footsteps dying down after a moment as Clara craned her neck to see which way they’d gone.
The Doctor returned a little later, alone.
“What did you do?” she asked, as he walked past her to stare out of the doors again, empty space as far as the eye could reach.
“Locked him up. Used to do it a lot more frequently, but we both got thoroughly sick of each other so we tried to find a different solution, and with Alex all grown... But that’s old history. The question is, what do we do now?”
Clara kept silent as he contemplated what to do, unsure what this meant. Were her family OK? How and why would someone do this?
Eventually the Doctor reached out the door and grasped the phone.
“First of all, I think we’ll call the Seeker. Two heads are better than one, and he’s a smart lad, he might think of something. Besides - considering the name he chose, he might as well live up to it.”
~~~
Meanwhile, on Earth
“That’s not possible...”
Jack’s voice trailed off as he craned his neck to take in the host of planets populating the sky. Impossible, yet very real.
The Time Lady by his side tilted her head, twisting a lock of hair between her fingers, causing the feathers in her hair to catch the light and flicker like shards of red light.
“Not impossible,” she observed, “just highly improbable.”
He turned to her, but her eyes were on the sky, thoughtful and grave, and - despite the length of time she’d spent working with Torchwood - he wasn’t sure whether she was quoting Earth literature, or if it was just coincidence.
Shaking her head, she added, voice no more than a whisper:
“That is fearsome technology. I have a very, very bad feeling about this.”
Chapter 2
Also, since posting the Prologue, the very talented
the_redjay created a beautiful banner & icon for me. Which has the added benefit of showing you what the Seeker looks like. :)Master post for whole 'verse here.
Summary: "Why is it only ever the bad guys who have a proper plan?" The Master's son finally meets the Daleks. And he thought it a good day. (TSE/JE rewrite with Eleven and Clara and a host of extras.)
Setting: Future AU TSE/JE. (For the Doctor & Clara it's somewhere between Name of the Doctor and Day of the Doctor.)
Spoilers: Possibly some for Name of the Doctor.
Rating: PG-13.
Characters: The Seeker (the Master's son, OC), Eleventh Doctor, Clara, the Master, Jack, River, Roda (OC, belongs to
the_redjay), Davros, others.Beta: The always lovely
kathyh.Feedback: Pretty please? I'm very curious to see what you think.
Dedication: This chapter shall be for
flowsoffire as a belated birthday present!Chapter 1
The TARDIS was serenely blue and beautiful, and the Seeker could feel her gentle ‘Hello’ as the faintest brush against his mind. He’d left only moments between the Doctor’s call and his own arrival (teleporting straight into the TARDIS was a neat little trick he always relished pulling off), and she was still parked where the Doctor must have landed - where Earth should should have been, but wasn’t. There was also a new Companion who smiled at him nervously, but before he could say anything the Doctor spoke - and not with the welcome he’d expected...
“Seeker - you look like you’re going to a funeral! What happened to that lovely purple coat of yours?”
Glancing down at the perfectly presentable combination of white shirt, pirate-y black coat, black shoes and trousers, he shot the Doctor a peeved look.
“I got dressed in a hurry, and black goes with everything. Plus, I’m not going to wear my favourite coat for saving the world. It’d just get ruined.”
(He wasn’t lying, he told himself. He had gotten dressed in a hurry - after which he’d spent the best part of the morning in a whirlwind of preparation. In all likelihood none of it would be needed, but better safe than sorry.
Not that he said anything of course. The point of secret weapons, after all, lay in the secrecy. And he really wasn’t sure how the Doctor would react.)
“You look like a villain!”
(The unspoken words clear enough: You look like your father.)
The Seeker took a deep calming breath and smiled brightly.
“Well then, when we catch whoever stole the Earth we can do a Good Cop, Bad Cop routine. Also, it’s my pleasure to be here, no need to thank me.”
The Doctor shot him another half-grumpy look, and the Seeker almost wished he’d chosen something more colourful to wear, he could really have done without the Doctor in disapproving paternal mode (Stars above he hated conflict)... Except black was simple and effective. He wasn’t quite the clotheshorse he’d been in his previous regeneration, but he knew he cut an impressive figure, something he was keen to use to his advantage. And something which might come in handy today.
But the Doctor was not letting up.
“Well it’s only your childhood home, I thought you might be at least a little concerned...”
Forcing himself not to swear the Seeker’s smile faded.
“Look, I get that Dad upset you by being... well, himself. But would you very kindly stop taking it out on me? This is exactly why I always stay out of the way of you two - I invariably become the battleground, and I was already fed up with that when I was half a year old. How about instead of nagging me, you introduce me to your new Companion and we can do something productive?”
(Three hundred years and he was still ‘managing’ his parental figures. Surely they should move past it at some point?)
Looking somewhat chastised, the Doctor acquiesced.
“Seeker, this is Clara Oswald. Clara, this is the Seeker, the Master’s son. And not evil, despite the outfit.”
Clara was petite and beautiful, dressed in a green dress with a blue jacket on top, paired with black boots. A pretty outfit, but sensible and good for running. As he shook her hand, he couldn’t help noticing how small and fragile she looked, her worry and fear like a tight-knit cocoon around her (she was clearly a control-freak, just like him) - yet she smiled bravely and he knew she was probably equal to any challenge thrown at her. The Doctor chose his friends wisely.
“Clara Oswald, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise Seeker.” A slight hesitation, then she added: “Sorry, but if you’re a Time Lord, how is Earth your childhood home?”
The Seeker shot the Doctor a surprised look.
“He’s not explained any of that? Um... In brief, my father used to have a different face, and was known as Harold Saxon - you’ll remember him as the Prime Minister who murdered President Winters. I was born during a year that never existed - long story involving a paradox - and grew up on Earth, since my mother was human; and I had as normal a childhood as I could, everything considered. ‘Everything’ being the Doctor and my father both trying to bring me up. If I were you, I’d try not to picture it.”
She blinked at him. “Oh. He... never really mentioned any of this, just said that there were three other Time Lords out there.”
New companion, new start, and increased avoidance... It would certainly explain why it had been so long since the Doctor had visited. (Madam Vastra had called once, saying she and the rest of the gang were looking after the Doctor after a bereavement. He’d been ginger then, and preoccupied, and gratefully left them to it.)
“I’d be hurt, except I got my own place a long, long time ago and am a bit of a hermit, truth be told... But then I’m a scientist at heart and I like building things, which takes time - hence creating my own planet, and that was just the beginning. Also I’m not fond of the running, but make an exception now and again; like now, for instance.” He smiled as he saw some of the tenseness shift, and - knowing that the most important thing right now would be hope - added:
“What do you say that once this is all over, and Earth is back where it belongs, you come visit me? My planet is beautifully tranquil - it’s basically a copy of Gallifrey, but without all the Time Lords, obviously... Tell you what - make sure you time it for early spring, then you can witness the migration of the singing fish: it’s like the whole world is made of music.”
She was now smiling back at him, and he could tell that she had - if only for a moment - forgotten their present quandary. Which was good, except he was acutely aware that the Doctor’s increasing agitation was about to erupt, so he got back to business. (He had every intention of keeping his promise however. It had been far too long since he'd had visitors.)
Looking out the doors, there was no doubt: Earth was most definitely gone. Snatched away as if by magic; vanished without a trace... Double checking all the Doctor’s instruments, his mind was busy ticking over with ideas and possibilities.
How? he wondered. How had it been done? The sheer scale of the thing sent shots of excitement through him. He’d played with gravity and black holes (had nearly sucked a whole solar system into his first one), had created/built/grown his own TARDIS (with Roda’s help), but this was different. Bigger. More ambitious.
The early-morning lethargy had by now been completely overtaken by curiosity and covetousness. He wanted to find whoever had done this and discover what they’d done, examine every part of it - and then do it himself... He could design solar systems, one step nearer to playing with the building blocks of creation-
(He checked himself. This was how he’d died last time, being too ambitious by half. And planets would be far more fatal than a Matrix.)
Also he was getting lost in thought, and the Doctor would get impatient again. He looked up.
“Well then, go on Doctor - do you have a plan?”
The Doctor threaded his fingers together, brow furrowing, and the Seeker braced himself.
“I... Well I was thinking of going to the Shadow Proclamation.”
This was such an spectacularly sensible idea that the Seeker was reduced to momentary silent awe. Clara however looked confused.
“The what now?”
“Shadow Proclamation,” the Seeker explained. “Basically interstellar police. Doctor, I’m impressed. Although why not the Church of the Mainframe? This is right down their street.”
“Too many guns,” the Doctor muttered, and started to input co-ordinates, as the Seeker absentmindedly turned a few dials and pressed some buttons, so the Doctor didn’t have to keep going in circles. (He had - when much younger - been a trapeze artist for a summer, able to do a quadruple spin whilst keeping track of his orientation and position relative to the turning of the Earth - yet the Doctor’s twirling made him dizzy.)
“Guns?” Clara mouthed, looking even more thoroughly confused, and the Seeker shook his head.
“He’ll explain later I’m sure...”
“And we’re here. Come along now children!”
“I’m three hundred and nineteen,” the Seeker muttered under his breath, before following the Doctor and Clara - emerging from the TARDIS to find that they were faced with a cohort of Judoon aiming large guns at them.
The Seeker could tell Clara’s mild alarm as they all held up their hands, but as the Doctor began explaining their errand - in Judoon, which the TARDIS for some reason didn’t translate - he almost gave in to helpless giggles.
“What’s he saying?” Clara whispered, and the Seeker shot her a look, biting his lip.
“Basically - ‘Take me to your leader’.”
She clearly wasn’t sure whether to believe him.
“Seriously?”
“Just look at the silly grin on his face.”
When they set off, following the Judoon down a corridor towards wherever the ‘Leader’ was, Clara was fighting back giggles too.
“What’s so funny?” the Doctor asked, and the Seeker could only shake his head, before whispering ‘Ma ho!’ to Clara and setting them both off again. Being so wrapped up in his projects he tended to forget how much fun it was to be around humans... Really, he needed to get out more.
A little later they were shown into a large room, where a female Shadow Architect looked at them with ill concealed incredulity when the Doctor introduced himself.
“Time Lords are the stuff of legend. They belong in the myths and whispers of the Higher Species. You cannot possibly exist.”
The Doctor preened, obviously pleased.
“Well, yes, have been trying to lower my profile somewhat. Glad to see it’s working.”
He then jabbed a finger in the Shadow Architect’s general direction.
“However, we have a missing planet, so since you lot have quite a good overview, we were wondering whether you knew where it had got itself to?”
The Architect raised an eyebrow.
“You are not as wise as the stories would say, Living Legend. The picture is far bigger than you imagine. The whole universe is in outrage, Doctor - twenty-four worlds have been taken from the sky.”
Much to the Seeker’s gratification, the Doctor was momentarily rendered speechless. But he rallied quickly.
“How many? Which ones? Show me!”
“The locations range far and wide. They all disappeared at the exact same moment, leaving no trace.”
She tapped a console unit, and the names appeared, causing the Doctor to read them out loud.
“Callufrax Minor, Jahoo, Shallacatop, Woman Wept, Clom - really? Clom? Why would anyone want Clom?”
“All different sizes,” the Shadow Architect continued. “Some populated, some not, but all unconnected.”
“Oh please,” the Seeker could barely hide his disdain. “Anyone goes to this length, there’s something that connects them. We just don’t know what yet.”
Red eyes were frowning at him, but the Doctor laughed and clapped his hands together:
“What he said! Now, let’s try putting it in 3D so we can get a better look at what we’re dealing with.”
Projections popped into the air, the ethereal planets slowly turning in the empty space of the white room. The Seeker tilted his head, attempting to categorise them somehow, but the only common denominator seemed to be their disparity.
Then Clara spoke.
“Wait, Doctor - what about the Lost Moon of... whatever that planet was called where we had that picnic? And you told me how one of its moons had just disappeared?”
The Doctor stared for a long moment, then a wide smiled spread across his face and he jumped across to Clara and kissed her forehead.
“Poosh! The Lost Moon of Poosh! If planets have been taken out of time as well as space... You - Shadow Lady - are there any older reports about planets that have disappeared?”
“A few cold cases, but...”
“Tell me,” he demanded, adding them to the projection as she spoke. When he reached twenty seven, however, the hologram projection abruptly spun and tilted, the planets instantly rearranging themselves into the optimum pattern.
The Seeker felt as if someone had kicked him solidly in the chest, and for a moment was unable to even breathe.
The Shadow Architect was asking questions, and the Doctor was replying, which was good because the Seeker wasn’t quite sure what words were anymore.
He’d been right... there was a connection. And one so much bigger than he had suspected. The planets were not wanted for their own sake, but because they were pieces of an engine, the whole thing like a power house...
So much power, his mind was almost failing to grasp it. Slowly he made his way into the centre of the projection, letting the planets move about him, exquisite in their perfect equilibrium. They were without a shadow of a doubt the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. It was a little like falling in love, every part of him - mind, heart, soul; the very essence of him - filled with pure, undiluted enrapture. He’d not felt like this since he’d looked into the Untempered Schism.
As he slowly took on board the sheer scale of the whole thing, he reflected that he had never met anyone with a mind like his own - but the person who had done this was someone he knew saw the world the same way he did. And not just that, but whoever he/she/it was they made his own ideas seem small, and that had never happened before... They were someone with vision and ability to match.
(Deep down, so deep it was barely a conscious thought, there was a sudden and innate desire to keep this for himself. All this power - if the Doctor was right, it would only be used for destruction. The things he could do with it...
And at the very, very back of his mind - his father’s voice, a soft and silky whisper: 'You’re a Time Lord. You have that right.’)
Clara was tired. It had been a long day already, and there was supposed to have been dinner and interesting people, not the disappearance of Earth itself. (Her family was safe in the 21st Century the Doctor had said, and she hadn’t dare ask him whether he was lying. Right now she preferred a lie to the alternative.)
The Doctor was now busy talking to the weird Shadow Lady, and the Seeker was wandering around inside the projection as if he was in love, which made him a little difficult to approach - she had a feeling he’d go off on some technical tangent if she went up to him, rather than be chatty and fun like he’d been before. She sighed. Mostly she felt superfluous and worried and wished she could go home.
Seemingly out of nowhere (although she had probably just been lost in her own thoughts) another Shadow Woman appeared - younger, but still with those weird red eyes, although she looked sympathetic rather than snooty. She held out a cup and saucer.
“You need sustenance. Take the water, it purifies.”
Grateful, Clara held out her hands.
“Thank you. That’s... very thoughtful.”
But then the strange alien girl suddenly fixed her with an unblinking stare.
“You are the Impossible Girl. Born to save the Doctor. But not even giving your life will help save him from the pain today will bring.”
Clara almost dropped the cup in shock, staring back wide-eyed.
“How do you know that? What’s going to happen?”
The unnerving red gaze shifted to the Seeker, who was still mesmerised.
“Do not trust the man in black.”
Clara could feel her hackles rise. She’d been given warnings like this before, and it hadn’t been what it seemed. Cryptic Seers, they were not exactly helpful.
“Why?”
The woman turned back to her, holding her eyes, unflinching.
“He is his father’s son. This is the day he lays claim to his birthright. God save you.”
She left Clara with an acute and unhappy sense of foreboding, her mind spinning back to the events that had started the whole thing. His father’s son... But he’d been so nice - genuinely concerned, and amusing, and nothing at all like his father.
Earlier.
“How about something to eat?” the Doctor suggested, fiddling about with the controls on the TARDIS checking that something-or-other was still OK after the day’s adventures (they’d saved a world populated by odd multicoloured crab-like creatures who had called them Clarrrrra and Doctorrrrrrr and had expressed their gratitude in a highly elaborate dance), before suddenly jabbing a finger at her.
“Hah! Yes. I know what to do. We’ll go to the 22nd Century. Lots of nice places to eat, and we can also drop in on Jack... He asked me to stop by. You’ve not met Jack yet, have you? Oh, and you could meet Roda also - I seem to recall promising you that you could meet some of the other Time Lords? Although since there are only four of us, there’s not a lot to choose from, but Roda is a good friend... Right - Cardiff, here we come!”
But, as he put his hands on the levers to take them into the vortex, the door opened and a stranger walked in.
He was tall, with a neatly trimmed beard, and very well dressed - an expensive woollen coat over a crisp suit with matching tie, an umbrella over his arm and black gloves on his hands.
“Did someone say 22nd Century? How very fortuitous - that is when I need a lift to. 27th of June, 2134 to be precise. Five minutes to three if you please? Somewhere near the Houses of Parliament presuming this old junk box can manage it.”
Clara looked from the stranger to the Doctor, who didn’t seem in the least surprised - just deeply, vehemently annoyed. She knew that look, but had rarely seen it descend with such swiftness and intensity.
“Master! I’m nobody’s taxi service. I won’t-”
“Of course you will, stop complaining. If nothing else to get rid of me. Is that a new coat?”
He studied the Doctor, raising a single eyebrow that managed to convey disdain, arrogance and ridicule all in one:
“What are you aiming for this time? Willy Wonka? As if having the face of a twelve year old isn’t bad enough, why must you insist on looking like you stepped out of a Disney film? Complete with your own Charlie, winner of the Golden Ticket.”
He turned to Clara and cast a swift, dismissive glance over her before pulling a face.
“Is she new? A new pet to go with the new coat? She looks... shorter. Than the last one, I mean. And less shouty so far, which is an improvement. Although I presume she’s overflowing with morals and good intentions and bravery the way they all are. So bloody monotonous. What happened to that wife of yours? She at least was interesting.”
Leaning heavily on the console, the Doctor tiredly held out a hand, waving it in the stranger’s direction.
“Clara. This is not a Time Lord I was going to introduce you to, but here goes. His name is-”
“- the Master. I’m the Doctor’s arch nemesis. Feel free to look frightened.”
He was leaning on his umbrella now, gloved hands grasping the handle and a superior smile on his face, and Clara decided that she really, really didn’t like him. He seemed to have gone out of his way to tick all the boxes that said ‘creepy villain’, and she turned to the Doctor, puzzled.
“Sorry, but - if he’s your arch nemesis, why is he expecting a lift?”
”We... have a truce,” the Doctor replied through gritted teeth. “Which depends upon him not going around killing people or trying to take over the world... Tell me, Master, what exactly are you doing in the 22nd Century?”
“Why Doctor, I was going to let it be a surprise. Besides I have every faith in your ability to work it out for yourself. Eventually.”
The two Time Lords studied each other silently for a long moment, before the Doctor abruptly set the co-ordinates and a few bumpy moments later they landed.
“Fine. Here you are. On your merry way then.”
Clara had a feeling that as soon as she was out of the way the Doctor would be on the Master’s trail, and she wasn’t about to complain. He reminded her of The Great Intelligence, although with more snark - she’d be happy to never meet him again.
The Master, however, opened the door, stood stock still, then turned.
“Doctor. You seriously need to have a look at that navigation system. You could get Roda to help you, she must be bored stiff at Torchwood as I’m... too busy to terrorise her at the moment. Of course she is a lawless, barbaric, violent pest, but she has more engineering skills than you could ever hope for. Which isn’t saying much, but this is getting ridiculous...”
“What are you taking about?” the Doctor asked querulously. “We’ve landed. Get out.”
“In one word: No!”
The Master stood back and held out a hand towards the empty star-scattered space outside the doors.
Looking up from his instruments, the Doctor’s face clouded over.
“That can’t be right.”
He studied the screen again, and then stalked forwards.
“But everything is correct. I don’t understand...”
“Well colour me stunned,” the Master observed sarcastically, before making his way to the console, carefully walking around and checking all the instruments before letting his eyes scan the screen.
“Well I’ll be damned... More than I already am, I mean.”
The Doctor turned, staring from the Master to Clara, eyes wide with incomprehension and mounting panic.
“It’s gone! Earth. It’s just... gone!”
A sudden grin spreading across his face, the Master began chuckling.
“To lose one planet, dear Doctor, may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose two looks like carelessness.”
In a few long strides the Doctor was in front of him, nose-to-nose.
“Was it you? Did you have something to do with this? You were very specific as to the timing...”
Trying to curb his evident amusement, the Master shook his head.
“I swear- I swear on my son’s life that I had no idea. Pazithi Gallifreya, I wish I did, or that I’d thought of it. The look on your face...”
He creased up again, helpless mirth overflowing until the Doctor grasped him roughly by the arm and propelled him down the stairs, their footsteps dying down after a moment as Clara craned her neck to see which way they’d gone.
The Doctor returned a little later, alone.
“What did you do?” she asked, as he walked past her to stare out of the doors again, empty space as far as the eye could reach.
“Locked him up. Used to do it a lot more frequently, but we both got thoroughly sick of each other so we tried to find a different solution, and with Alex all grown... But that’s old history. The question is, what do we do now?”
Clara kept silent as he contemplated what to do, unsure what this meant. Were her family OK? How and why would someone do this?
Eventually the Doctor reached out the door and grasped the phone.
“First of all, I think we’ll call the Seeker. Two heads are better than one, and he’s a smart lad, he might think of something. Besides - considering the name he chose, he might as well live up to it.”
Meanwhile, on Earth
“That’s not possible...”
Jack’s voice trailed off as he craned his neck to take in the host of planets populating the sky. Impossible, yet very real.
The Time Lady by his side tilted her head, twisting a lock of hair between her fingers, causing the feathers in her hair to catch the light and flicker like shards of red light.
“Not impossible,” she observed, “just highly improbable.”
He turned to her, but her eyes were on the sky, thoughtful and grave, and - despite the length of time she’d spent working with Torchwood - he wasn’t sure whether she was quoting Earth literature, or if it was just coincidence.
Shaking her head, she added, voice no more than a whisper:
“That is fearsome technology. I have a very, very bad feeling about this.”
Chapter 2
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NEED MORE!!
WHERE IS THE REST?!?!?!
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\o/ \o/ \o/
WHERE IS THE REST?!?!?!
In my head. >:)
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*Whimpers*
*Tackles you with adoration*
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then there's this chapter and yay Clara yay 11 boo Clara introduced as petite and beautiful seriously elisi we get enough attractiveness-first description in everything else, why elisi D:
Then there was this bit:
and I perked right up again. :D
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LOL. Some of the basic structure, and the Daleks stay the same. Otherwise... It's difficult to recognise.
then there's this chapter and yay Clara yay 11 boo Clara introduced as petite and beautiful seriously elisi we get enough attractiveness-first description in everything else, why elisi D:
Well we're in the Seeker's POV. And Clara is very pretty. (To be honest I wasn't sure whether to include her, but I've found some very interesting things to do with her! <3)
Then there was this bit:
"“He is his father’s son. This is the day he lays claim to his birthright. God save you.”"
and I perked right up again. :D
I am so stoked to be writing this omg. I have had it planned for years and years and YEARS!
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This was too short. The wait for the next chapter is already too long.
In response to another comment you said the story this is based on was "difficult to recognise", but it's the BEST way to do this IMO. Too much "revisited" episodes are "Ooh look I changed this and that because it'd be better that way and… oh well everything else is the same, even if it doesn't make much sense, but hey. Look I changed something!"
Also… Not Simm!Master then?
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I don't know!!! *sadface* (I should probably post it more places...)
This was too short. The wait for the next chapter is already too long.
Too short? And I was trying to keep the chapter short and failing. (IMHO) But I am already working on the next part!
In response to another comment you said the story this is based on was "difficult to recognise", but it's the BEST way to do this IMO. Too much "revisited" episodes are "Ooh look I changed this and that because it'd be better that way and… oh well everything else is the same, even if it doesn't make much sense, but hey. Look I changed something!"
*nods* Either they add something (like 'It's Episode x, but with Rose!'), or they 'fix' something. Trying to remember where I first got the 'idea' for this, I was thinking about how I needed a Dalek story for the Seeker, and as this was 'the' Dalek episode at the time, I wondered how I could adapt it. Initially it featured Ten (companionless, as I never had Donna in my 'verse) and Torchwood (i.e. Jack) and River (even though I didn't know who she was then, but I needed people what with not using any of the companions except for Jack) and the Master of course, and it all evolved from there. Writing it now, with Eleven & Clara and everything that's happened since is... interesting. The whole landscape, or language, of the show has changed, so I have to adjust the tone also. (It's late, I'm rambling. Sorry.)
Also… Not Simm!Master then?
No! I figured it's centuries down the road so he must have regenerated at some point. (Also it ties in with one of the Roda stories - he is in the 22nd century, posing as a descendant of Harold Saxon...)
Anyway, thank you for reading and your comment. I made my evening. ♥
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You've really hit Roda on the head yet again, even in such a short piece of dialogue. This is why I always trust you with her 100%.
And I love how you've worked the prophecy-ness into Clara and the Seeker. The Seeker is especially fun in this, and I love the references to whose son he is, and more information about his planet, which is always lovely.
Really, I can barely recall the episode bar the most important parts of it, so this is all gonna be especially awesome for me, on that front. And then there's Eleven, and I could read thousands upon thousands of pages of your Master, and River too...
I agree with Mandy. You spoil us, and it's too long a wait until the next chapter!
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I am already impatient for tomorrow evening! (Although your texts on their own made *me* flail!)
You've really hit Roda on the head yet again, even in such a short piece of dialogue. This is why I always trust you with her 100%.
I will send you another snippet. Should be fine, but there are things I need to make sure are correct.
And I love how you've worked the prophecy-ness into Clara and the Seeker.
It's a funny thing, but using Clara & Eleven - all by themselves and who they are - is opening up a ton of stuff. And the episode is great for adapting! (One interesting aspect, which I've also nattered about above, is the fact that the whole tone of it needs changing. The 'vocabulary' of Eleven's era is so vastly different to Ten's that the whole texture & feel of it is different.)
The Seeker is especially fun in this, and I love the references to whose son he is, and more information about his planet, which is always lovely.
Oh I am having a FIELD DAY with him. Just wait...
Really, I can barely recall the episode bar the most important parts of it, so this is all gonna be especially awesome for me, on that front.
I am not sure this will really help - unless you mean that you don't remember it, so this is all new. Because really, I've only kept the framework and changed everything else. :)
And then there's Eleven, and I could read thousands upon thousands of pages of your Master, and River too...
The Master just turns up and demands allllll the attention. I had to lock him up, or he'd be stealing the whole story.
I agree with Mandy. You spoil us, and it's too long a wait until the next chapter!
♥ Also, I have a draft now, which is nice. (It is SO HELPFUL to have a base to work from! Soon I'll spiral away, but for now I can still steal armfuls of dialogue & just adapt it! *g*)
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“You look like a villain!”
You look like your father.
Oh dear, I just love it—and the Seeker taking a deep breath and setting them back to the business at hand ;) Their dialogue is just lovely, the Seeker's wit is very nice. Loved all the insight details, his hating conflict (no wonder…), his concern about cutting an impressive figure, but not for vanity's sake, for the use he could make of it. And I loved his sharply telling the Doctor to stop putting him in the middle of his conflict with his father, however unconsciously—it really wasn't fair to him, and he didn't have to put up with it even more now than when he was a child… He was quite right to be exasperated, especially seeing the two men's antics, he really must be the grown-up quite often with those two ;)
I really enjoyed seeing the Seeker's perceptions of Clara, and all the things he picked up about her in so little time: her anxiety, her also being a control freak, but brave and able to put up a good façade and face anything thrown her way. Lovely portrayal, both of her character and his sharp insight! I died at the Seeker's sum-up of his background, and Clara being like "…okay." And in the context of her relationship with the Doctor, it wasn't surprising she hadn't heard of all that, but the Seeker had more distant knowledge of what his "uncle" had been up to and how he'd been and he picked up immediately on his not having been very open with the girl.
I'm also realizing that the Seeker's introduction to Clara makes for a handy sum-up of his history and personality to your reader, I enjoyed that :) And I appreciated his psychology, knowing they would need hopefulness and offering a visit to his planet once this whole business was over. Very nice. And the singing fish, that was lovely too :) And then he was pleased with his managing to soothe Clara, but aware that the Doctor was getting fidgety, and switched smoothly back to business. Seeker and people management: top marks all the way.
Loved the fact that Earth's disappearance made the Seeker excited because it was so huge—quite fitting, and it was interesting to see all the mind-blowing things he'd gotten to do before on that occasion :) Black holes, love it ;) Loved his ever-growing excitement, his craving to understand exactly what had been done and be able to reproduce it, but also his knowing himself well and telling himself to stop. The Doctor needs people to stop him sometimes, apparently the Seeker can stop himself ;) Or, at least, he learned from past mistakes and an excess of ambition. I also smiled at how he was planning to fix the situation with Earth, of course, but it still wasn't really his focus anymore at the current moment ;)
I died laughing at the Seeker being stunned that the Doctor produced a sensible idea ;) Neat allusion to the Church, with the Doctor's quick dismissal, of course. More dying with the trapeze artist part and the Seeker disliking the Doctor's spinning, it's priceless :D Same for the Seeker not liking to be called a "child" along with Clara ;) And I liked the connection those two were getting, and the Seeker enjoying to be around humans. Indeed, it would be a good idea not to keep to himself so much, wrapped up in his projects…
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I am SO USELESS at birthdays (I used to be good, back before I got a job), so it seemed the least I could do. And you deserve all the good things!
I loved your opening with the TARDIS' serene beauty and the Seeker's perception of her, with the telepathic greeting :) I smiled at his relishing being able to teleport straight into the TARDIS
He and the TARDIS are old friends. Which is why she lets him do clever things. :)
and it was nice to see the swift allusion to Clara, before the Doctor stole the show to criticize the Seeker's fashion sense, of all things. ROFL, because that was so relevant at the time, for sure.
As you can see from the flashback at the end, the Doctor was not in the best frame of mind... *g* (And I love commenting on the clothes.)
And the Seeker was concerned about not ruining his beloved coat with the likes of the end of the world :D So like what we've seen of him so far, hahaha! I just love it.
Worrying about his coat getting ruined is actually a veiled reference to another story. And I'm glad you like him. <3
And Rule One worked for him as well, for sure—secrecy, making sure he was absolutely prepared for any eventuality, in a rush of activity. Thorough boy. (And still he told himself he wasn't lying, and that made him uncomfortable…)
Oh he's very thorough (his father's son, very much, in that regard). And it's not so much that he's uncomfortable lying (he was brought up to be an excellent liar, and has been lying to the Doctor for years and years because he doesn't want to upset him...), but he doesn't want to be accused of lying later, when all he was doing was not telling the truth. *g*
Oh dear, I just love it—and the Seeker taking a deep breath and setting them back to the business at hand ;) Their dialogue is just lovely, the Seeker's wit is very nice. Loved all the insight details, his hating conflict (no wonder…) [...] And I loved his sharply telling the Doctor to stop putting him in the middle of his conflict with his father, however unconsciously—it really wasn't fair to him, and he didn't have to put up with it even more now than when he was a child… He was quite right to be exasperated, especially seeing the two men's antics, he really must be the grown-up quite often with those two ;)
He was always in the middle, both of them trying to make him follow 'their' way - which is why he a) learned to avoid conflict and b) refused to take either path and did his own thing.
his concern about cutting an impressive figure, but not for vanity's sake, for the use he could make of it.
He used to be rather vain (in his second regeneration - also see icon), but he's grown out of that by now.
I really enjoyed seeing the Seeker's perceptions of Clara, and all the things he picked up about her in so little time: her anxiety, her also being a control freak, but brave and able to put up a good façade and face anything thrown her way. Lovely portrayal, both of her character and his sharp insight!
I love how everything can be at least two things at the same time!
I died at the Seeker's sum-up of his background, and Clara being like "…okay." And in the context of her relationship with the Doctor, it wasn't surprising she hadn't heard of all that, but the Seeker had more distant knowledge of what his "uncle" had been up to and how he'd been and he picked up immediately on his not having been very open with the girl.
Partly I am trying to very vaguely tying it in with canon, but I could totally see the Doctor not oversharing about his past. And the Seeker *knows* the Doctor - nothing like a child to understand their parental figures - so he's not really blaming the Doctor for being evasive, just accepts it.
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No worries, and it's really appreciated! :) *hugs* It's very understandable what with the job you've got other things to think about on a daily basis, plus your little family and all :)
He and the TARDIS are old friends.
She likes him better than Daddy, then! ;) But that's very fitting.
As you can see from the flashback at the end, the Doctor was not in the best frame of mind... *g*
Yes. The Master's very nice work ;)
(And I love commenting on the clothes.)
All the things to say about Time Lord sense of fashion! ;)
And it's not so much that he's uncomfortable lying (he was brought up to be an excellent liar, and has been lying to the Doctor for years and years because he doesn't want to upset him...), but he doesn't want to be accused of lying later, when all he was doing was not telling the truth. *g*
Okay! Makes sense ;)
I love how everything can be at least two things at the same time!
Subtle writers ftw! *thumbs up*
Partly I am trying to very vaguely tying it in with canon, but I could totally see the Doctor not oversharing about his past.
Yeah, there do seem to be hints of that rather often =)
And the Seeker *knows* the Doctor - nothing like a child to understand their parental figures - so he's not really blaming the Doctor for being evasive, just accepts it.
^_^
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Again, double benefit!
And I appreciated his psychology, knowing they would need hopefulness and offering a visit to his planet once this whole business was over. Very nice. And the singing fish, that was lovely too :) And then he was pleased with his managing to soothe Clara, but aware that the Doctor was getting fidgety, and switched smoothly back to business. Seeker and people management: top marks all the way.
It helps that a) he grew up on Earth, so understands humans rather well [for a Time Lord] and b) he has his father's charm/learned a lot from Jack, so knows how to deal with people. Or you could see him as hugely manipulative, and worry. ;)
Loved the fact that Earth's disappearance made the Seeker excited because it was so huge—quite fitting, and it was interesting to see all the mind-blowing things he'd gotten to do before on that occasion :) Black holes, love it ;)
It's great writing him this old, I have a lot of history to play with - much more than when he's a teenager.
Loved his ever-growing excitement, his craving to understand exactly what had been done and be able to reproduce it, but also his knowing himself well and telling himself to stop. The Doctor needs people to stop him sometimes, apparently the Seeker can stop himself ;) Or, at least, he learned from past mistakes and an excess of ambition.
He is generally very, very sensible - partly because he was brought up by two people who very seldom know when enough is enough. As any child, he went in the opposite reaction to his parents.
I also smiled at how he was planning to fix the situation with Earth, of course, but it still wasn't really his focus anymore at the current moment ;)
Details. ;)
I died laughing at the Seeker being stunned that the Doctor produced a sensible idea ;)
Did I mention how much fun I'm having writing this?
Neat allusion to the Church, with the Doctor's quick dismissal, of course.
I like to attempt to work in more new canon in this - by now - 'old' story!
More dying with the trapeze artist part and the Seeker disliking the Doctor's spinning, it's priceless :D Same for the Seeker not liking to be called a "child" along with Clara ;)
Three hundred is of course young in Time Lord terms, but the Seeker still sees himself as far more sensible than the Doctor. *g*
And I liked the connection those two were getting, and the Seeker enjoying to be around humans. Indeed, it would be a good idea not to keep to himself so much, wrapped up in his projects…
Uh-huh.
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*more thumbs up*
It helps that a) he grew up on Earth, so understands humans rather well [for a Time Lord] and b) he has his father's charm/learned a lot from Jack, so knows how to deal with people. Or you could see him as hugely manipulative, and worry. ;)
I'll pick all of the above! Layers! ;)
He is generally very, very sensible - partly because he was brought up by two people who very seldom know when enough is enough. As any child, he went in the opposite reaction to his parents.
Makes sense, once more :)
Details. ;)
What is a small planet? :D Everyone get some perspective!
Did I mention how much fun I'm having writing this?
It shows, and so do we, reading! ;)
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I like Clara's POV, her concern about her family, but choosing to believe the Doctor because she couldn't have done anything anyway, and her feeling tired and a bit out of place, the Doctor being busy and the Seeker utterly entranced. The dialogue with the other Shadow Woman was fascinating, quite eerie, I really enjoyed the tone you used there. And the birthright again… Clara's reaction, her unhappiness and puzzlement, her sharp awareness as she tried to make sense of it all were well done too.
Goodness, love the flashback part—the opening was so hilarious, with their previous adventure with the crabs! I just ADORED the Master's entrance and his every line, oh my god he is GLORIOUS! (And the Doctor complained he wasn't anyone's taxi service, haha River feels :D) Goodness, he's priceless. Not getting over it :D The Willy Wonka comments, and the bits about Amy—and River! :D He would find River interesting, no doubt she went to great lengths to make sure he would have some measure of grudging respect for her ;) And I enjoyed Clara's reactions to him… Loved the Master's reaction to not finding Earth where he expected it to, more sarcasm towards the Doctor (and Roda) first, then the comment about being "more damned than he was already" :D
“To lose one planet, dear Doctor, may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose two looks like carelessness.”
I'm dying. XDDD Loved the Master and Doctor disappearing into the TARDIS too, and the Doctor resurfacing alone ;) The Seeker living up to his name, ROFL. That's perfect. And the Jack and Roda closing part was very nicely written! It's just lovely :) Can't wait to see more—and see River come in! :D
♥
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It's amazing how well some stuff works in this completely different context. (The Shadow Architect's lines are taken from the transcript, I've not altered them at all.)
I chuckled at the Seeker being all like "please, peasant…" when she said the vanished planets were unconnected.
Humility is... not one of his strong points. ;)
And like Donna in the original, it was Clara that unlocked it all :)
Of course!
I was just enthralled by the Seeker's fascination with the system of the twenty-seven planets, how powerfully the realization hit him, the intensity of his reaction, the hugeness and beauty and potential and intelligence of it all, and his craving to know of the mind behind all this. And I just loved the lurking thought, at the back of his mind, telling him to keep this to himself, and the influence of his father playing for once.
His temptations are... very different from the Doctor's or the Master's. If I had to liken him to a Classic!Who character, it'd be the Rani. He is aware of the pitfalls of his scientific-centered mind, but that doesn't make the temptations any less tempting.
That sense of a birth right—not so much from his birth, but his immense abilities, that made him entitled to do some things because he could… Fascinating.
I am so pleased that you got that point! I was worried it was a little obscure.
I like Clara's POV, her concern about her family, but choosing to believe the Doctor because she couldn't have done anything anyway, and her feeling tired and a bit out of place, the Doctor being busy and the Seeker utterly entranced.
Because she is so self-contained and doesn't give a lot away, I needed to go into her POV just to see how she was coping...
The dialogue with the other Shadow Woman was fascinating, quite eerie, I really enjoyed the tone you used there. And the birthright again… Clara's reaction, her unhappiness and puzzlement, her sharp awareness as she tried to make sense of it all were well done too.
I absolutely adored playing with that whole scene, and adding my own prophecy! It's fun setting stuff up!
Goodness, love the flashback part—the opening was so hilarious, with their previous adventure with the crabs!
I don't even know where the crabs came from. They just... appeared.
I just ADORED the Master's entrance and his every line, oh my god he is GLORIOUS! (And the Doctor complained he wasn't anyone's taxi service, haha River feels :D) Goodness, he's priceless. Not getting over it :D
The problem with him is that he just turns up and takes over EVERYTHING. And yes, the River line was very deliberate, because Doctor/River snarking often reminds me of Doctor/Master in all the best possible ways. :)
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Mmmm, yes. River and the Master. I'm not sure he likes her, but he appreciates anyone who can manage the Doctor.
And I enjoyed Clara's reactions to him…
For us it's fun. For her... not so much.
Loved the Master's reaction to not finding Earth where he expected it to, more sarcasm towards the Doctor (and Roda) first, then the comment about being "more damned than he was already" :D
I'm adding tiny Roda snippets here and there - she's another OC, but the story doesn't focus on her so I don't want to overwhelm readers. Plus she's not mine, so I always worry. (Incidentally the most logical person for the Doctor to turn to for TARDIS repairs would be the Seeker. The Master doesn't suggest him, because clearly his son has more important things to be getting on with than fixing old junk. *g*)
I'm dying. XDDD
I absolutely couldn't help myself. I think this is what's so great about the Doctor/Master dynamic - they can (and will) reference Earth culture. And who better than Oscar Wilde?
Loved the Master and Doctor disappearing into the TARDIS too, and the Doctor resurfacing alone ;)
I hinted at it in the prologue, I figured people would like to 'see' it also.
The Seeker living up to his name, ROFL. That's perfect.
He named himself that because he wants to seek out knowledge/truth, but hey, names are funny things in this 'verse...
And the Jack and Roda closing part was very nicely written! It's just lovely :) Can't wait to see more—and see River come in! :D
Thank you - the end felt a little tacked-on, but I figured we needed to see people actually ON Earth, plus Jack & Roda are important. River... Well, you'll see! Thank you SO MUCH for all your gorgeous feedback, hope you enjoy where I'm going...
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I love your OCs!
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*flails like a crazy thing* You're reading!!! And thank you for your kind words. I've had this planned out for ages, but actually writing it - and adding Eleven & Clara - has given it a flavour all its own. Initially I just wanted to have a story with the Seeker & Daleks, and I figured TSE/JE would work well, just with a different solution, but now it's evolved almost beyond recognition.
I love your OCs!
♥ ♥ ♥ I love YOU!
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It's a very exciting set-up.
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*beams* I never thought of it as fun, but the way the characters bounce off each other just... works. :)
The Seeker is a very amusing p.o.v. from which to watch. I'm enjoying his inner commentary (also meta-commentary: the TARDIS not translating Jadoon!)
He's a bit like River - he has no illusions about the Doctor. But he comes from the position of the Doctor as parental figure (and the Doctor of course can't stop seeing him as 'young'), so I get endless mileage out of it. *g* And oh, the meta-commentary is brilliant - like the bit with the Judoon. The immense need to fix stuff that's illogical is irresistible.
It's a very exciting set-up.
\o/
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