trans_9 | Archaeology, Natural Disasters and You [Closed]

The trip down revealed that Taleen was going to be of several things, none of which were pleasant. Arid, pale with a light dusting of red from the rocks, and yellow-white grass that extended in plains all the way towards far off mountains . There was a giant gash in the land near the orb landing area, which resolved itself into a massive canyon as the party drew closer. Spider webbing out across the top of the canyon were signs that a civilization had once flourished here. Traces of broken pillars and half submerged buildings, as well as what looked like a downed ship that had embedded itself in a massive building. There was no movement visible amongst the ruins now. As the dry wind blew through the stonework, it would became clear that they were walking into a mass graveyard.

Not somewhere you'd want to spend your vacation.

For some people, this was going to be a field day.

According to the scans and what little records they had, there hasn't been a sentient being around for hundreds of years. The majority of native wildlife had moved out of the area, seeking refuge. The land looked dead already. In the sky above, several specks of light twinkled in the sky, growing bigger with each passing hour. In a few days, it will be raining fire.

[Closed to Daniel, Eleventh Doctor, Sofia, Jamie, Hoshi, Howard, Billy, the Master, River Song, Cassie, Tom]

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"Sure. Watching other people do stuff is a great way to figure out what to do yourself, if you end up in similar circumstances. Or not do. Whatever." He shrugs. "Let other people do all the messing up and discovering first. Besides, there might be some nice loot, and these guys sure as hell aren't going to miss it."

"You do have a point there," the Master admitted. He supposed he tended to operate in a similar fashion-- only usually with the soon-to-be-dead.

"What are you hoping to find?" He doubted it was anything he'd be particularly interested in, but perhaps they could work out some sort of partnership. As in, Howard would do the digging, and the Master would reap the technological benefits.

"I don't know. Stuff. I like having stuff."

He cants his head from side to side absentmindedly, biting at his fingernails as he clarifies. "Most of the resources that'd be useful in a disaster already got used here or rotted ages ago, but there might be power sources somewhere. Just because nothing's on doesn't mean there aren't things that're just turned off. I guess there might be precious metals, but unless it's something the forge can't get on Stacy that's not very valuable. Might be weapons. Might be medicine. That'd come in handy, since we can't figure how the hell half of Stacy's Med Bay equipment works."

He shrugs. "And, you know, information. These guys may be dead, but who said they don't know how to build a better battery? Or figured out a better way to water crops. Or whatever."

Ah, it seems their interests are compatible after all. Weapons... and power. The Master supposes that isn't completely unexpected for a human.

"A worthy goal." He tilts his own head, watching Howard closely. "If you do find anything 'valuable'... Do you think they'll let you keep any of it?"

He raises an eyebrow at the Master. That's a silly question, so he'll answer it with a question of his own.

"Who says I'll ask permission?"

And that was the right answer. The Master grins.

"How would you like some help?"

Howard doesn't match the grin, instead looking the Master up and down.

"Depends. Are you expecting to tell me we split things fifty-fifty now and then dump me at the nearest interplanetary gas station?"

The Master squints, but he's still smiling. "That was the plan," he admits, "But now that you've proven how smart you are, I suppose we'll have to come up with a better arrangement, won't we?"

Howard's eyes narrow a little. He angles his head again. The Master's words sound a bit much like flattery.

"Fifty fifty of whatever we get. You divide and I pick the half I want."

"Seventy-thirty," he counters smoothly. The truth is he isn't expecting to give Howard anything he can use himself, but he has to at least make a show of the boy 'winning'.

"No. Fifty fifty, my way. I'm fine walking, you know. I'm going to dig all this stuff up anyway, so I don't see what you're adding to get the extra twenty percent." He lifts an eyebrow. "Unless you're not telling me something?"

"Well, that depends, doesn't it?" the Master says, taking off his hat and fiddling with it nonchalantly. "You weren't planning on bringing back anything naughty, were you? Because as good as you may be, I doubt you'll be able to get it past them without help." He gestures to Eneesh's crew, still setting up equipment next to their ships.

Howard glances over at Eneesh's crew with a notable amount of unease. He and giant bugs have a history, and it's not a good one.

"I never said I was bringing back anything naughty." And seriously, who uses 'naughty' outside of talking about Christmas? "But are you threatening to turn me over to them on false charges if I don't go with your way?"

Really Howard, you should stop giving the Master such splendid ideas. You're almost as good as he is at this. The Master flashes him a smile just short of innocent.

"Can't be too careful," he shrugs. Really, he's planning on bringing back the naughty stuff through Howard; the Doctor would sniff him out in an instant, but not one of his precious humans.

"Do we have a deal?"

If looks could kill, Howard would be using his eyes to stab the Master in the face right now. Repeatedly. With something serrated and rusty.

"Fine. Deal."

It was hard to miss the murder in Howard's eyes. The Master's grin was positively cheeky now.

"Splendid," he said, readjusting his hat on his head. "Best get started, then. No time to waste."

Archaeology, Natural Disasters and You [Closed]

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