Haunted Memories

[traken_master]

Who: The Master and Open to All
What: Nightmare
When: During the nightmare plot
Where: The Death Zone on Gallifrey
Rating: PG-13/R Mentions of body-snatching, zombification



The Master believed he was waking and screamed. It was a short sound, quickly and ruthlessly surpressed, but it was telling that the Master made such a noise at all. Even his iron will could only endure so much pain. He looked down at his body and shuddered in disgust. He was still wearing the velvet finery from Traken, but his body...was from before. He was, now, wasted, looking like a rotted corpse. The pain was just as he remembered it and his hatred flared, hot and furious. Life and beauty were vicious mockeries and ones he wanted to punish.

The Master's mental ranting was cut short by voices. Turning, he saw a squadron of Cybermen approach. They were in sad shape. Each of them had burns on their bodies. They looked like they had been electrocuted and, indeed, they had. The Master had used them to get safely across one of Rassilon's traps, had cunningly led them to their deaths, when they thought him their prisoner. It seemed they would get a chance at revenge.

Comments

[cheerupemoborg]

Hank has no freaking clue as to how he got here (what else is new), and at this point, doesn't really care anymore. He'd spotted the Cybermen not long after arrival and had elected to follow them, hoping they would lead him to some answers.

Hank stops when he hears the scream. It sounded very familiar, he notes, but what he found certainly didn't look familiar. Being the only other living thing he had found so far, Hank decided to approach, ignoring the presence of the Cybermen entirely.

"I don't suppose you can understand me?"

[traken_master]

"Don't be a fool, Henshaw, it doesn't suit you," the Master snapped, irritated as he always was in this body. "You're fortunate the Cybermen did not spot you."

[cheerupemoborg]

Yeah, Hank's got a pretty good hunch about who this is now.

"Is that what those clumsy looking things are? I've seen Chihuahuas more threatening than them."

[traken_master]

"Oh, by all means, do underestimate them. It's not like they've taken down entire civilisations."

Really, he finds the idea of watching someone or something, doesn't matter who or what, die painfully and messily to be immensely cheering.

[cheerupemoborg]

"I'm starting to wonder if that's still an impressive feat these days."

Hank pauses, giving the Cybermen a second once over. He scoffs after a moment, before letting loose his heat-vision, aiming for their midsections.

[traken_master]

The Master watched, as the foremost Cybermen burst into flames. They assumed an attack formation and began firing their weapons. The Master pulled his TCE, grateful it was still in his pocket.

"Do you know nothing of subtlety?" he scolded, flinching away from a blast that nearly caught his shoulder.

[cheerupemoborg]

"Of course I do."

Hank bursts forward, zipping between the Cybermen's attacks to tear the head clean off of one, while his arm converts into a weapon and fires a round into a third's chest.

"This seems faster, however."

[traken_master]

The Master laughed, delighting in the carnage.

"Very well. We shall have fun!"

He fired off the TCE, shrinking two of the Cybermen.

[cheerupemoborg]

Hank kicks another across the room, before swiping up one of the shrunken Cybermen.

"I suppose that's one way to get a souvenir."

[traken_master]

"It is my favorite weapon," the Master agreed, cheerfully. "Sadly, we're running out of things to slaughter."

[cheerupemoborg]

Hank looks down at one of the fallen Cybermen, then to the few still standing.

"Isn't that always the way? The fun's over as fast as it starts."

[traken_master]

"Well, we'll have to find more fun somewhere else, won't we?"

[cheerupemoborg]

"Yes, it looks like there's no more to be found here," he says as he finishes the last one off.

"Finding some answers, for once, would be nice. Any clue as to our location?"

[traken_master]

"I know exactly where we are," the Master snapped. "This is the Death Zone on Gallifrey, my home planet."

[cheerupemoborg]

Hank crosses his arm.

"Fascinating. Now we just need to figure out how we got here."

[traken_master]

"Yes. The last time I was here, I was brought by the High Council of Gallifrey, while the Doctor, several of him, and his companions were brought here by the Time Scoop. I believe those were the same Cybermen that I killed last time."

[cheerupemoborg]

"A specific point in time. Hm.

Well, I wonder: if this is the castle's doing, why am I not human? It usually strips me of my powers..."

[traken_master]

The Master snorted. "Perhaps it does not wish for you to die...too quickly."

[cheerupemoborg]

"Oh, lucky me.

You make this place sound dangerous. Is it?"

As if the name 'Death Zone' wasn't an indication.

[traken_master]

The Master didn't even bother being sarcastic, merely chuckled. "Oh, it is, my dear Henshaw. This place holds nothing and serves nothing except death. It is one of the most honest places in existence."

[cheerupemoborg]

"What, exactly, makes it so dangerous?"

He lightly kicks one the Cybemen carcasses.

"I hope it's not because of these. That'd be disappointing."

[traken_master]

"The Cybermen?" the Master asked, giggling. "Oh, no, oh no, my dear Henshaw! You don't see at all. The Cybermen are just like us, players in this little game. Oh, there are far worse things here, unimaginably worse!"

This was said in a tone of absolute glee and was punctuated horribly by a streak of lightening landing just a couple of paces from both of them. The Master laughed, loud and hard.

[cheerupemoborg]

Hank whirls at the sudden strike of lightning, weapon ready, expecting more Cybermen.

"I fail to see what's so funny about all this."

[traken_master]

"Do you, really?" the Master asked, curious. He giggled again. "I don't have that problem at all."

[cheerupemoborg]

Hank just grumbles.

"Then you have an odd sense of humor."