The Sontarans still marched through the capital. \u201cContinue searching, my warriors!\u201d called Trev. \u201cWe must locate the Eye of Harmony so that we may dissect it!\u201d At that point, his adjutant received a message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Oh, you have got to-! Sir!\u201d called the adjutant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReport,\u201d ordered Trev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the Doctor,\u201d replied the adjutant. \u201cShe\u2019s doing her usual parlay trick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cParlay trick?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, you know how she does it. She spots us, pretends to surrender, plays on our egos, then BOOM! She enacts a plan she devised and we\u2019re blind-sided enough that she defeats us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh. I\u2019ve taken to calling it the Doctor\u2019s White Flag Maneuver,\u201d said Trev. \u201cDWFM, for short. Adjutant, prepare a party. Minimum number of Sontarans. We\u2019re going to have the Doctor executed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cImmediately, Sir,\u201d replied the adjutant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Doctor and her friends and allies had to split up for a while to make the plan work. Somehow, Lurra Rus ended up with the Master. As they waited for their signals, the Master spoke to Lurra Rus. \u201cMiss Rus,\u201d he began, \u201cyou used to be involved in that quaint little Project: Necromancer, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Yes, but I think you\u2019d be hard-pressed to call it quaint if you saw it,\u201d replied Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat were you doing before Dr. Hemlock kidnapped you?\u201d asked the Master. Lurra Rus didn\u2019t know where he was going with that question, but still found herself answering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was talking to a reporter from an independent news service,\u201d she said. \u201cHe was working on a story, uncovering evidence that the Emperor was involved in wrongdoing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd, presumably, he couldn\u2019t publish that evidence?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. The Empire killed him, erased all his records, and destroyed all his evidence and notes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs absolute rulers tend to do. \u2026What if I were to tell you that Romana is involved in wrongdoing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I\u2019d ask for evidence,\u201d replied Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHere,\u201d said the Master as he handed over an object. Lurra Rus accepted it, but arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Wh\u2026What is it?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat does it look like?\u201d replied the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA green crystal with some sort of ring gadget around it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook within the crystal,\u201d directed the Master. Lurra Rus did so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026There\u2019s something swirling around inside it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA star permanently collapsing, but never fully turning into a black hole,\u201d explained the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Wait, isn\u2019t that what the Eye of Harmony is?\u201d asked Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s correct,\u201d confirmed the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026And the smaller ones are a TARDIS\u2019s heart, if I recall right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo what\u2019s the deal with the machinery? It looks like it\u2026can\u2026can split the crystal open!\u201d Lurra Rus finally yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCalm yourself, Miss Rus, it\u2019s not armed,\u201d soothed the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope not!\u201d shuddered Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut it IS illegal. It\u2019s the heart of my TARDIS, a Type 75. Romana never trusted me. The Great Houses of Gallifrey signed a treaty to never weaponize the heart of a TARDIS like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRomana would just say,\u201d said Lurra Rus, \u201cthat its purpose would be used to deter the Sontarans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe would, yes,\u201d replied the Master. \u201cAt which point, you tell her that a deterrent would be designed to have no ill effect. But this device is now a powerful explosive and its main purpose is to spread temporal radiation over a wide area!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a weapon,\u201d remarked Lurra Rus. \u201cIt was turned from engine and computer core into a weapon!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFar more effective on people than on rocks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026And you want ME to have it?!\u201d asked Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWithout the trigger, it\u2019s useless,\u201d replied the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you want in return?\u201d The Master smirked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMiss Rus, you had serious reservations about the economic system of your home galaxy and time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cY-Yes?\u201d said Lurra Rus, unnerved that the Master knew that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would be interested to hear what those reservations are. Believe it or not, many think like you, from what I\u2019ve seen. People that command legions of Stormtroopers are clearly the lucky ones, but there ARE citizens dying of diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d replied Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDiseases which HAVE a cure,\u201d continued the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot everyone can afford the drugs needed to help them overcome those diseases,\u201d said Lurra Rus. \u201cPeople like the Emperor or Vader would say that the galaxy is overpopulated anyways. It\u2019s good if there\u2019s something that eases that pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Emperor Sheev Palpatine has said that?\u201d asked the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot publicly, but I\u2019m sure he would say that behind closed doors,\u201d replied Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe wouldn\u2019t say that if it was HIS life at risk, would he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, he wouldn\u2019t. Miss Ta\u2026Master, as you said, there are millions like me who hate the Empire and the corporations, people who think they\u2019re synonymous with greed. They destroy whole planets, strip them bare, and for what?! Just to fuel more growth?! To generate more money?! Just look at my home planet of Ryloth! We\u2019ve been exploited to fuel corporations and corrupt regimes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe economic system of your galaxy like others throughout time and space is fundamentally flawed,\u201d remarked the Master. \u201cThe corporations COULD be a force for good, but they\u2019re compelled to fight one another.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat reporter I talked to,\u201d said Lurra Rus, \u201chis news service tried to highlight all that, but no one\u2019s come up with a better system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019m sure they have,\u201d replied the Master, \u201cbut the Emperor and his corporations had bought them off or disappeared them like they did with you or through mere killing. That is what absolute rulers do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChanging the economy of my galaxy just couldn\u2019t happen,\u201d sighed Lurra Rus. \u201cThere have been scandals and crises, but the corporations always survive or new ones take their place as do the ones pulling the strings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Are all Twi\u2019leks such defeatists?\u201d asked the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t beat the Empire through economic means!\u201d insisted Lurra Rus. \u201cTheir corporations control everything! Employ everyone! Silence all dissent!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have the means to destroy them!\u201d declared the Master. \u201cDo you know how the stock market works?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Well, a barebones idea, yes,\u201d replied Lurra Rus. \u201cPeople with money invest that money in companies they think will do well. People take risks, sometimes they\u2019re rewarded, the other times are ruinous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s the element of risk that is important,\u201d remarked the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d agreed Lurra Rus. \u201cMy father always said it\u2019s like pod-racing; gambling with people\u2019s lives, but in more sinister and subtle ways.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA very good analogy.\u201d The Master grinned. \u201cAnd if you knew the outcome of each race beforehand, would that be gambling? I can predict the stock market!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith one equation! I have checked the records for all the possible points in space and time where there WAS a stock market! The formula holds! I can predict the price of any stock at any point in space and time!\u201d Lurra Rus was in awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat power would set a person up for life! It would make you the richest person in the universe!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf I was the only one to have the equation,\u201d replied the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course. I mean, you wouldn\u2019t share it, would you?\u201d The Master smirked at Lurra Rus\u2019 question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Why not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, because if everyone had the formula,\u201d replied Lurra Rus, \u201cThen the whole\u2026system\u2026would collapse!\u201d Her eyes widened as she realized what would happen to the Empire if the Master enacted his plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPrecisely!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou CAN do it!\u201d breathed Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI WILL do it!\u201d declared the Master. \u201cBut I need your help!\u201d He pulled out an external computer drive. \u201cThis drive contains the equation, how it was devised, and a small program that would run on even a household computer! Your job is to convince the Doctor, the only Time Lord with a functioning TARDIS, to take you back to your old home and disseminate this information! All news services need to run the equation!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut there\u2019ll be chaos!\u201d yelped Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo!\u201d replied the Master. \u201cThere will be a new order! A new economic model that I have designed for that galaxy and all others! I alone shall be prepared for the collapse of the corporations! I will be able to use the Imperial infrastructure to impose the new system!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI imagine it will have to be based on a loose grass-roots system,\u201d replied Lurra Rus. \u201cA network of communes committed to the environment of each world in the galaxy and eventually each point in space and time. Self-sufficient planets but bartering goods if they have a surplus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have been searching throughout history to see if there is a precedent for what I am doing,\u201d said the Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot on this scale. In my galaxy, the main problem will be reeducation. We\u2019ve gotten so used to commerce that a switch to the post-economic system, where people only take what they need, will be difficult, but not impossible, to adjust to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d replied the Master. \u201cThe new Universal Economy will be a war footing! Criminals and undesirables will be put to work as laborers! Those with particular aptitudes will form the Elite! The citizens will provide a work force! The women will produce new children! The men will work in new factories and in the armies! And all surplus production capacities will go into armaments!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWHAT?!\u201d shrieked Lurra Rus. \u201cNO! That\u2019s what the Empire is all about! I won\u2019t be party to that!\u201d Just then, a chime rang. \u201cThat\u2019s the signal! Master, we\u2019ll discuss this-!\u201d Lurra Rus tried the door, but it wouldn\u2019t open. \u201cDank Farrik!\u201d she hissed. \u201cThis kriffing door won\u2019t open!\u201d She looked to see the Master keeping his hand on a button and correctly guessed what that button was linked to. \u201cLET ME OUT!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLurra Rus,\u201d said the Master, \u201cyou are resourceful and intelligent, like any Twi\u2019lek. I had hoped you would be in my new Elite. Please\u2026don\u2019t disappoint me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Let! Me! OUT!\u201d snarled Lurra Rus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026As you wish,\u201d replied the Master. \u201cBut please think about my offer.\u201d He released the door lock and Lurra Rus left to enact her part of the plan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Sontarans still marched through the capital. \u201cContinue searching, my warriors!\u201d called Trev. \u201cWe must locate the Eye of Harmony so that we may dissect it!\u201d At that point, his adjutant received a message. \u201c\u2026Oh, you have got to-! Sir!\u201d called the adjutant. \u201cReport,\u201d ordered Trev. \u201cIt\u2019s the Doctor,\u201d replied the adjutant. \u201cShe\u2019s doing her […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[959,1067],"tags":[515,35,963,962,997,1068,1069],"class_list":["post-7533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-doctor-who-crossings","category-the-specials","tag-amy-rose","tag-doctor-who","tag-fan-companion","tag-fan-doctor","tag-rassilon","tag-romana","tag-susan-foreman"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7533"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7534,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7533\/revisions\/7534"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}