Vengeance (audio story)

Vengeance is the third story in Master!. It was published by Big Finish Productions and was written by Matt Fitton. It featured Eric Roberts as the Master, with a guest appearance from Chase Masterson as Vienna Salvatori. It also starred Laura Aikman as Dr Lila Kreeg.

Publisher's summary
The Daleks are returning. Their plan, long in the making, is complete. Earth will be theirs once more.

But someone stands against them. Someone with his own reasons for revenge - and Vienna and Lila are caught in the crossfire. Because Earth's greatest hope against the Daleks lies with The Master.

Plot
New reports of Daleks exiting a huge saucer over London is being displayed on monitors. An army of firing Daleks make their way to the ground below. The Supreme Dalek calls out claiming the planet and its resources, and warning them not to resist. Meanwhile, the Master is listening to the Supreme Dalek's command, claiming to Lila that he'll have to give them the bad news - the position of Master of Earth is already taken. The Master tells her that he's excited to catch up with them.

The Daleks demand full surrender of the humans, commanding them to return indoors and wait for further orders. Vienna is waiting for RT, her broken service drone, to crack a code to enter a technology store. Before RT shuts down for good, Vienna demands he tell her who took out the contract against the Master, but to her frustration he claims the information to be confidential. She takes it upon herself to hack his systems for the location of the person who hired her.

With their base of operations destroyed by a Dalek missile, the Master and Lila are hiding out elsewhere. The Master informs Lila that the building is off the maps and acqured from RND. He tells her that he had an alterior motive for acquiring more Prometheum - to build targetted shielding around their new base. These shielding, he explains, can be programmed to withstand any specified weapon. Lila demands the Master to let her leave but he refuses.

The Master is not interested in the Daleks. He's more concerned that someone hired Vienna to kill him. Taking out a weapon, he asks Lila whether she'd like to get something off her chest. Lila makes the Master look her in the eyes and tells her that she has not betrayed him. The Master lowers his weapon and allows her to stay with him. The Master is hell bent on ensuring the Daleks do not claim what he owns.

With a location successfully procured, Vienna blasts her way into the base of those who hired her. She has yet to uncover who it is. She pulls out RT, who's on his very last legs, and returns it to the man inside the building. He invites her in. She refuses a drink invitation. The man introduces himself as "the real Magnus Drake... one of them".

The Daleks enter the government building and clear it, making ready for the collection and relocation of the world's leaders, the most profilic of whom they know to be Magnus Drake. The Supreme Daleks scolds the Dalek Litigator for attempting to override his plans to conquer Earth. The Supreme then sends the Litigator on its mission to find Drake, and warns it not to interfere with his plans.

Drake continues his conversation with Salvatori. Vienna notes the warp fields and time corridors that brought her to this time period, claiming the owner of such technology would be rich, and would surely offer enough money to allow herself and Jexie to retire for good. Drake explains that he had been shaping Earth from the shadows until the Master showed up and stole his identity. He notes that he has been using Lila's work, improving it and using it for his own benefit.

Vienna follows Drake further into the secret laboratory. Drake shows her living clones of himself in tubes. He continues to explain that every night, he updates all of their memories. Vienna makes Drake aware that she wasn't completely unaware of the Master upon receiving her assignment. She explains that the Master is the culprit of numerous crimes in her time period too, and that he never always had the same face. Upon explaining to her that the the Master is a Time Lord, Vienna tells him that he's not the only Time Lord that she's met.

Drake informs her that the Master is very much alive, and that she cannot claim her payment. Not at all pleased, she takes out her gun. He advises her to lower her weapon for two reasons: without him, she'll never receive her payment, and secondly, he has signalled the Daleks to the bunker, hence she'll never make it out alive. He reveals a tunnel and tells her that it will hide her biosigns and lead her to a shuttletrain that will take her away and to a safe facility. He explains that in this safe facility is the Master, and urges her to finish her job. Hearing the Daleks outside, Vienna makes her way through the tunnel. The Daleks enter and take Magnus Drake away.

Lila works out that the Daleks' plan was simple: allow the human race to rebuild after their previous invasion attempt and then return to steal everything that the humans have built. The Master explains that he's not defending the Earth at all. He's fighting the Daleks because they're Daleks. He continues to state that Vienna tried to kill him, yet the Daleks actually did kill him, much to Lila's surprise. The Master is excited to take out his revenge.

The Daleks force the humans inside the government building. Drake informs the Daleks that he has been at the forefront of human rebuilding after the war and that he has a lot to offer them. The Supreme Dalek demands audience with Drake. Another human leader attempts to enter a desperate negotiation between the Daleks and the human leaders but the Supreme explains that the true reason for their rounding up was their extermination. The prisoners are then exterminated except for Drake. The Supreme hands Drake over to the Litigator, who takes him away. Drake explains the Master's situation to the Litigator.

Lila informs the Master that there are sixty Daleks heading for their location, about which the Master is pleased. They bring the weapon drones online. Their attention is drawn by a sound, which informs them that someone non-Dalek is using the elevator. The elevator pings open and the Master is surprised to see Vienna Salvatori. Vienna drops her weapon and suggests a pact. Vienna tells the Master that if he helps her return to her ship and escape the Dalek invasion, she'll tell him who took out the contract. They lock her in the storeroom.

The Master is pleased to note that the shields are not only holding back the Daleks, but killing them. The Master takes the drone controller and heads to the roof so that he can "hear them scream". On the other side of London, the Litigator and Drake are talking alone. Drake explains to the Litigator that he is fully aware that he is a clone made from Dalek technology. The Litigator claims that he has analysed the timelines and foresaw Drake's importance, knowing him to be useful to their strategies. The Litigator explains that he was the Dalek who oversaw the Master's crimes and that he was the one who gave the guilty verdict. He wishes to ensure the sentences remains carried out. Drake explains that he gave Vienna a second chance, but suspects she may defect.

Lila refuses the Master's invitation to the roof. The Daleks begin to work out that the Master is using a forcefield and begin to keep their distance. As the Daleks wait for their new strategy, the Master brings the drones online. In her cell, Vienna gets a surprise message from the Dalek Litigator. The Litigator explains that he provided the means for her to reach Earth in the first place. The Litigator gives Vienna the task of bringing the Master to the ship, dead or alive, in exchange for her fee.

Lila opens the cell door and wants to know who Vienna was talking to. Vienna states that she was communicating with her ship's computer. Lila informs her that Master wants her help on the roof, and Vienna tells her she'll do anything that gets her safely home. Lila informs her that she heard her conversation with the Litigator and uses it to make a deal: for twenty percent of her fee, she won't tell the Master of her secret conversation. Vienna agrees at fifteen percent just as the Master shows up.

The Litigator informs Drake that their business is done, causing Drake to become panicked. The Litigator tells him that he is free to go. Drake tells the Litigator of their experimental work with Vortex control and together they agree that it could be of use to the Daleks. Drake rushes off to fetch his work. At this, the Supreme scolds the Litigator once more for allowing the prisoner to flee. The Litigator refuses to accept the scolding, stating that it is always useful to have eyes on the ground.

From the roof of the bunker, the Master informs the Daleks that he owns Earth and will not allow them to take it. With Vienna maintaining the defenses, Lila on the offensive drones and the Master with his "big gun", the three of them begin their assault on the Dalek troops. Meanwhile the Litigator is explaining that Daleks are losing because the Master knows them too well. The Commander informs the Supreme that the Master's attack drones are immune to Dalek weaponary and highly effective against Dalekanium. The Litigator takes pleasure in informing the Supreme that Skaro will not be pleased with his failure of such a simple task. The Supreme withdraws his troops, stating that all weapons will receive upgrades at the ship. The Litigator publically advises against the course of action. Furious, the Supreme demands the Litigator follow him to the ship.

Back at the bunker, Vienna tells them that Magnus Drake employed her to kill the Master, much to Lila's surprise. That's when Vienna explains the clones at his secret bunker. They then note that the Daleks are retreating. The Master tells them to mop up what remains outside while he takes his revenge to the ship. He tells them to meet him there. With the Master gone, Vienna explains that the Drake was just a middle man, and that the Dalek Litigator is her true employer. Hotwiring transport, they make their way to a pit stop on their way to the ship.

At the ship, a fleet Daleks have departed to once more attempt to capture the Master. Yet again, the Supreme demands to know why a mere Litigator is giving instructions. The Litigator takes further pleasure to inform him that the orders are direct from Skaro. The Litigator makes the Supreme aware that he submits himself to the judgement of the Dalek Parliament. The Parliament has decided to postpone what it deems a failed invasion, making Earth no longer a priority.

The Supreme orders the Commander to return to the Drake facility so that they could destroy the clone. The Commander challenges the order, stating that the Litigator has given counter orders. Upon stating that this order comes from its Supreme, the Commander accepts. Meanwhile, the Master approaches a Dalek. As the Dalek attempts to take him prisoner, he kills it. He continues his massacre of all the Daleks who get in his way. One Dalek demands that the Master makes his presence known to the Litigator. The Master is confused to know that the Litigator and the Supreme have ordered his capture and extermination respectively. The Master destroys the Dalek and makes his way to the ship.

Back at the Drake's base, Lila and Vienna find him grabbing his equipment, ready to hand it over to the Daleks. Vienna informs him that their previous contract has been terminated. With Vienna holding Drake at gunpoint, Lila discovers that Drake had continued Yellowbrick. Drake informs them that it could be of use. Yellowbreak's Vortex folding technology doesn't just have the ability to transport whole cargo across space, but it could easily transport a whole vessel. When Lila decides to take her technology from him, it leads to a stand-off between Vienna and Drake. Drake is certain she won't kill him. He informs Lila that Vienna has grown a conscience.

Elsewhere, the Master shoots the Dalek guard to the ship and makes his way leisurely towards, shouting for the Dalek Supreme. The Master states he'll cease his firing if the Supreme faced him. The Supreme comes closer. The Supreme gives the order for the Master's extermination, all attempts at which fail miserably. The Litigator orders the ceasefire as he exits the ship. The Master recognises the Litigator as the one who put him on trial.

Confused at Drake's outburst, Lila orders Vienna to shoot Drake. Drake explains that Vienna had retired from "ethical bounty hunting" but made an exception for the Master. Lila herself pulls out a neutron gun, much to Vienna's surprise, who tries to dissuade her from using it. Vienna uses her experience to explain to Lila that looking a person in the eye and killing them changes you. As Lila struggles to decide, Drake decides to kill her. At the last second her and Vienna duck as a Dalek enters from behind and shoots, catching Drake in its fire. They run to cover. Vienna states that killing Daleks always makes the universe a better place and they open fire. Vienna offers her a place on her ship but Lila refuses, stating she may have a plan. She wishes to transport Drake's equipment to Trafalgar Plaza. Firstly, they set the clone factory alight.

The argument continues to rage between the Supreme and the Litigator. The Litigator explains that the Master is shielded and that he also wishes to interrogate him before his extermination. The Master is impressed when the Litigator explains that he worked out his survival from the trial through use of a Deathworm Morphant. The Master calls their work sloppy but both Daleks bring up numerous examples of the Master betraying the Daleks without reason. The Daleks assume the Master wishes another alliance to which the Master corrects them: he will allow them to ally with him if they first beg. He then begins to torture the Supreme Dalek, demanding him to plea.

Arriving at Trafalgar Plaza, Lila and Vienna begin their plan to place their technology around the perimeter, in order to create a wormhole big enough to drag the Dalek ship and the Daleks with it. Hearing the Master in the distance, they realise that he has the Daleks distracted, which is perfect for their plan. The Supreme crumbles before them, much to the astonishment of the Litigator. He informs the Litigator of his true wish: to become the Master over all things. The Litigator explains that his plan is flawed and will never work, nor will any alliance. This leads to the Master torturing the Litigator too. The Litigator uses a temporal shift to escape, promising another meeting. Lila runs to him and, together, they enter the Dalek ship.

Inside the deck of the ship, the Master slaughters all of the Daleks. The Master tells Lila that this is the perfect opportunity to steal the Dalek ship and travel throughout the universe. To Lila's shock, the Master first wants to destroy all life Earth and travel the stars with Lila. Lila shares her disgust for him before receiving a communication from Vienna who is ready to give Lila the signal. Lila informs the Master that she's not coming with him and that she's leaving with Vienna. The Master states that either she joins him or she dies. Vienna comes to her rescue and together, they activate Yellowbrick.

Upon seeing the Vortex, the Master becomes scared. Lila knows that the Master is riddled with negative artron particles. The Daleks and their ship begin to get pulled into the Vortex, along with Lila. Vienna attempts a rescue. Heading towards the Vortex, the Master tells Lila to deactivate Yellowbrick but she flat out refuses to let him destroy Earth. Lila pushes the Master back into the Vortex before allowing herself to be rescued by Vienna.

Vienna and Lila get clear of the Vortex nodes. Not long after, news reports claim that numerous industries that survived the invasion are working together to use Lila's experimental technology to defend Earth by installing it into the upper atmosphere. Vienna turns off the news report from Lila's apartment and is joined by Lila. Vienna explains that she kept some Dalek remnants to sell on the open market as antiques in her time for some easy credits.

Lila explains that she is now in control of Drake Industries, and therefore can give Vienna a lift back to her ship. Vienna states that Lila has a job to rebuild the Earth and ensure that the Master is never given a chance to return. They say their goodbyes and Vienna leaves.

Cast

 * The Master - Eric Roberts
 * Vienna Salvatori - Chase Masterson
 * Lila Kreeg - Laura Aikman
 * The Daleks - Nicholas Briggs

Continuity

 * When referencing her payment, Vienna had assumed it would be enough to allow her and Jexie Reagan to retire for good. (AUDIO: Vienna: Retribution, Prey)