Lost in Thought : Snippets of an Alternate POV

Escape the Room

The Master flipped something small and golden between his fingers, tossing it in the air long enough to draw the Doctor's attention to it before enclosing it in his palm. He smirked as the Doctor stiffened in realization, glancing at his bare left hand, a small white circle marking where the ring should be resting - where it had since he first put it on, several centuries ago.

"If you didn't miss me, Doctor, then perhaps you'll miss this a bit more." He shrugged. "Or perhaps not. You're always so interested in fairness," he sneered the word. "And I couldn't help but notice that Alyssa's fingers were so bare compared to yours. In the interest of equality, I think I'll give it to her, if she's still alive." He smirked. "After all, the poor girl's only human. She's not as good as you at sensing threats." He paused, glancing meaningfully at the Doctor. "Or lies."

The Doctor stared at him, fury burning white hot at the edges of his vision. "Every time we meet, just when I think you can't sink any lower, you continue to disappoint me," he snarled.

The Master grinned, though it was more baring his teeth than a gesture of joy. "I brought along my shovel just for you," he purred. He twirled his fingers and the ring disappeared. "But enough about you," he decided, strolling over to the controls. "I have a ring to share, a girl to dispose of, you know how it is." His fingers flew over the keyboard, inputting an array of commands. He finished and twirled around, eyes glinting with manic triumph.

"Playtime's over, Doctor. It's time for the Siren to rise."

The Doctor shuddered at the name, forcibly shoving down the memories that threatened to overwhelm him. "You know what will happen when we meet," he bit out, straining against his bonds. "Life would be in danger. All life. Every living thing could be wiped out the second we meet."

"And wouldn't that be glorious?" the Master hummed, appearing almost ecstatic at the very thought of it. "Still, it would be hard to rule a universe with no universe," he conceded. "I can't exactly rub it in your face if you're dead too. Which is why you won't be there alone," he added, assuming a nonchalant air as he tossed the ring carelessly about in the air before pocketing it once more.

The Doctor surged to his feet, fury coursing through every vein in his body as he lunged for the Master, only held back by the chains. And while the chains may have been made of unbreakable metal, the wall they were connected to was much less able to withstand the fury of a Time Lord as a crack formed in the base.

"Don't you dare. Bring her into this, and I will kill you," he swore, meaning every word of it.

The Master paled and stumbled back a few feet despite himself. "What happened to being a man of peace?" he tried to regain his bravado, though his sneer was too shaky to have much effect.

The Doctor held his gaze steadily. "He was dragged into a war started by another that threatened the whole universe and became a warrior," he stated grimly. He'd done it before. And he hated it, but he'd do it again. He would if he had to. "Sound familiar?"

The Master looked away first. "It doesn't matter anyway," he said, affecting a casual air. "We both know you don't have a choice. Where you go, she goes."

Yes, but he'd sooner give up every last one of his regenerations - however many he had - than drag the young Lyssa out there into what he was about to face. Although, he might have a way around that.

Ironically, he had actually come across it while working with the Teselecta and searching for a way for, if not both him and Lyssa, then at least Lyssa to survive Lake Silencio. And while it hadn't truly been needed then, given what had happened, it could be used here.

He just hoped she could forgive him.

"Oh, don't, I recognize that face," the Master complained with a scowl. "You're already plotting some way to get your precious girl out of here, aren't you?" He huffed. "It's not like I could use her anyway, she made that very clear that time with that redheaded girl." One hand came up to rub at his arm beneath his coat sleeve, and he winced at the touch. He noticed the Doctor's smirk and dropped his hand with a glare that quickly melted into his own malicious smirk.

"Well, I suppose if Plan A has failed, it's on to Plan... B," he emphasized the... name.

"I'll see you around, Doctor," he grinned, pushing back his sleeve to reveal a vortex manipulator and tapping at it. "Don't be late, I'd hate to start without you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Doctor's sonic, setting it pointedly on the control table, right in the Doctor's line of vision and thoroughly out of his reach. "But then, I'm just so terribly impatient."

And with that, he vanished in a flash of light, like a horrible mockery of Lyssa's jumps.

The Doctor grit his teeth, glancing longingly at his sonic before turning his baleful gaze on his chains. Unbreakable metal, pointless to even try without the sonic. He could pull them loose from the wall, maybe. But that would take time, time he didn't have when Lyssa was in growing danger with every second that passed, and Bria was already in the hands of the Master. And who knew where Scott was, if the Master had even bothered to spare him in the first place.

So if he couldn't break the walls or the chains... that left one (relatively) easily damaged point of connection. Or two, if you wanted to get technical. And he could heal himself quickly enough, it would only take a bit of regeneration energy.

He resolutely set to work, grimacing as pain radiated through his palm and up his wrist. Lyssa - any version of her - would not be impressed if she knew, and rightly so. But only if she knew what he'd done. He already had to hide so much from her just to preserve the timeline - a timeline he'd sworn an oath to preserve long ago when he graduated from the Academy. It had always hovered in the back of his mind even when blatantly flouting every other law they'd demanded he obey. 

But the Time Lords weren't here anymore, with their rules of non-interference and cruel impassivity. And Lyssa, his wonderful fairy-girl with enough compassion for others in her one heart to easily match all he could muster with two, was. What was one more paltry omission to protect her?

After all, there was one important rule to remember above all others when traveling with the Doctor.

The Doctor lies.

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A/N: Whoo! That only took a day and an age to get posted lol. There was a great response to the first chapter, thank you all so much for your support, and I'm so glad you all seemed to enjoy it! :)

Gallifreyan zinc is technically canon, according to at least one audiobook. It's recorded as the strongest metal in the Whoniverse.

Don't forget that the Master and Missy are two separate people in this story. Also, this regeneration of the Master is based off of Andrew Scott's portrayal of Moriarty in BBc's Sherlock.

Annd friendly reminder that Lyssa's mother is abusive - it does not have to be physical/leave bruises to be abuse, both neglect and verbal abuse - yelling, insults, constant demeaning, etc - all count as abuse, and they are wrong. Absolutely no one deserves to be treated like that, whether by a parent, a partner, or a friend.

I have no idea when the next snippet will be up, but I think I'm probably going to do 10's POV of Lyssa's first  "kiss" in chapter 8 of Lost in Time. That one should actually be a drabble this time (Watch me write a 5k fic), but I make no promises lol. Also it should be fun delving a bit into what was going through his mind. ;D

Special thanks to everyone who's voted and followed, and shout-out to everyone who commented! You guys are amazing :)

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoyed! And as always, please feel free to request any scenes you'd like to see :)

General Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who, just Lyssa.