Chapter Text
He was suffering so, my constant companion, my Doctor. He was again faced with the pain, suffering and death of his beloved humans. I heard the echoes of the humans through his mind. He could have turned the communications link off, but as typical for him, he forced himself to listen; to be a part of it as much as he could; to suffer with them.
I tried to wrap myself around him, to draw him closer to myself. I helped him take each painful step. I was suffering too. Not that I could tell him that – that would have surely driven him to a place from which he would never return. As the humans began to be taken by the Flood, he began to push me farther and farther away. It was not as horrible as it had been after his experience on Midnight – he did not toss me out of his mind, but he was keeping me locked in a small corner.
I knew the moment it happened; the moment he changed. It had been coming for so very long. He had simply endured too much. It had all started with Adric, truth be told. He never did recover from that brave youngling sacrificing his life to protect the Doctor… and me. I was reminded of the words of Mr. Finch, “You’re something new.” He was! But, in that moment, I felt the very deepest parts of myself being torn in two. For the first time in my life I was terrified of the Doctor. More scared than I had been during the Time War. I was more pained than when I was in the Heart of the Crucible. “Doctor! What have you become? NO!!!”
I felt the key in the door, but not my Doctor’s presence. What is this? It’s not right! I tried to close the doors, but whatever the creature was, it had the power to overwhelm me. I felt controls being used and buttons being pressed. Only my Doctor would know this! Who are you? Once the hand break had been released, I had no choice but to obey the commands set. He did not even greet me, when he brought the humans aboard. I tried to get his attention. I tried to explain how wrong this was. He still had me locked in the tiny corner of his mind. I was no longer a companion to him. I was only a tool, a trick of his trade. He’s becoming the Master!
I materialize at the point he had set: Earth, 21 November 2059. I was too afraid of him to not do his bidding. They all leave me and I am left to my own thoughts. His words to his human self echo throughout me, “What have you done?” Then I feel her strength. She was going to challenge him! Oh, sweet Adelaide! If I can’t reach him, I can help you! I hear him reply with, “Tough” and my agony is complete! It may already be too late….
As she moves closer to me, I surround her with myself. They are still her words, but I can help her formulate them and perhaps he will understand what has happened to him. I try to help her understand that her timeline must be reestablished. Not so much for the sake of human history, but to save the Doctor. She likes him, even admires him, which is why she is so willing to challenge him – try to make him see.
“Not anymore.” The words hang in the air like a terrible omen. I sense it almost before she does. Her resolve is set. I do not know what she is planning, save that she now understands that the timeline must be set as close as possible. I myself had not quite expected her to do that. I feel the Doctor realize the change in timelines, he slumps against me. I feel him desiring my support, but I withdraw, “You have done this, Doctor. I cannot help you!”
I am not certain what he saw in the snow. Only that it made him realize what he had done. I was grateful, but there was still the matter of the two of us to resolve. He was still refusing me access to him so as I spoke, I sounded the Cloister Bell. “The Time Lord Victorious? How could you? After all these years, how can you say that? You have become that which you’ve most hated: arrogant, power hungry and vengeful. You had said your human-self was full of “Blood and Anger and Revenge.” But it was you, dear Doctor. Davros was right in principle, if wrong in delivery: the description you gave your human-self is a reflection of yourself! Unless you stop this, you ARE “The Destroyers of Worlds!”
He had only one word to say to me, “No!”
And he released the handbrake.