Chapter Text
“Ok? Ok.” Alison nodded, glad that foggy scavenger hunt was finally over. “Is he… is he talking the loudest?” She enquired, absolutely clueless about what was asking.
Great. A foggier hunt now.
“Talking? The rascal is screaming ! Shrieking! Barking like some rabid,... urgent to be put down dog!!”
“Maybe… maybe he needs treatment. Healing.” Alison suggested without thinking.
What the fuck am I saying?
“You… you think s-? Ugh! No! Execution is far more reliable and more efficient!” The Master growled. “And way less time-wasting!”
“How is time-wasting even a concept for a Time Lord?” Alison scoffed. “And if you want to die again, you know you can always ask the Tardis!”
“I meant Koschei , you stupid, foolish wench! Not me!”
“And tell me how am I supposed to kill one of your past selves??”
“Ugh, only content yourself with wiping him out of my memory! That would be enough!” The Master spat.
“I can’t do that either!” She protested.
“Is there one thing you can actually do??” He roared. “The Doctor can… he can do that but… but his sorry, goody, sugary side will never allow him to do that!”
“Of course he won’t! That would mean killing you!” Alison scolded. “Or changing you.”
“Oh but wouldn’t you both be ecstatically happy if I changed?” The Master sourly grumbled.
“Listen…” She closed her eyes for a moment. Instead of dangerously slapping him in the face. “Your… Koschei is part of you, right?” She looked at him. “He’s part of what made you what you are today, isn’t he?”
“Unfortunately. Hadn’t he been here, I never would have let myself be imprisoned in such a shameful way!”
Literally and metaphorically, I’m sure. Alison thought.
“But then you never would have been the Master.”
He seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.
“Are you saying… I can never get rid of him… even if I wish it so?” He asked. “First he makes me the Master. Myself! Then he demands I stop being myself!” He joylessly laughed. “Stupid, irresolute, wavering fool! Millions of years later, after his stupid, repulsive story with Theta, you thought he would be through, had moved on, that his mind was advanced and superior, superior to his low, beast-like emotions! But no ! Even eons later, he’s still stuck in the same place!”
“Maybe that means…” Alison tried. “You didn’t evolve the right way.”
“The right w-? I should have become a mushy, flawed loony like the Doctor?? Is that what you’re implying??”
“He cares about other people, yes! He tries to do as much good as possible, yes! Do you think he’s low and stupid?”
“He is stupid! In a certain way…”
“You’ve told me he’s your equal. How can he be your equal if he… embodies what disgusts you most? What… what you don’t want to become?”
The Master started to think of it, then he groaned again, a pain worse than before crushing his brain.
Maybe… I don’t have to kill Koschei. He is what made me despite it all. But he’s the one destroying me now. She said he needs… healing? Healing from what? Such big words for such an idiot of a human! I won’t… be the Doctor or Theta’s good obedient slave again! I won’t let my feelings for him dictate how I live! I am the Master! MY own Master! Koschei was a slave! I’m not that anymore! I’m not… Shut up. Shut up!! Since when does a slave scream louder than his Master? Shut u-!