[open x3] I'm not big enough to house this crowd

[fragmentation]

James is having a pretty regular day. They're planetside, on a lovely little world called Hedenex. He's taking an exploratory stroll, dressed in one of his three-pieces suits, walking through the complex cityscape they're visiting, enjoying the unfamiliar sky.

He's spent most of the day running around with Andrew, seeing sights, meeting people, testing the cuisine, and letting the dogs stretch their legs a bit too. But Andrew and the dogs only have so much energy, so James has left them to get some rest. James doesn't really need to worry about those things, so he's been getting some exploring done on his own. It's a very welcoming area.

He's just about to head back to ship, when he stumbles. This in itself is unusual, given how surefooted he normally is. But it only gets weirder from there. His systems go haywire, his vision and most of his senses cut out completely. There's a moment of panic, but he doesn't have long to dwell on it before he wakes up in an entirely different place. That is, places.

--

James, or rather the Ambrose part of him, comes to on a streetcorner on the Upper East Side, near Harlem. He's breathing, which is most unconventional. When did he start breathing? Up until a moment (or however long it's been) ago, he was completely robotic.

It's not the first time he's been put in a flesh body, however, so he manages to adjust fairly quickly, getting slowly to his feet. He doesn't much care for the cold, though. Perhaps this is just another Time Scoop, but it's usually less unpleasant.

But no... Because there's something missing. Great chunks of his mind are gone, and he feels strangely empty. Oh, not his memories. Those are still there. Not as organised and reliable now he's got a biological body, but there. His two imported personalities. The Doctor and the Master. They're gone. Yet somehow he can still sense them. As if they're here, but not part of him anymore. He's not sure what this means.

It doesn't occur to him how strange he must look, standing here in the cold, looking confused and lost.

--

Across town, the Doctor wakes up. He's in a café in the East Village, down on 10th street - though he himself doesn't know much more than that it's a café, and that he's currently slumped against the wall in a booth.

He goes through much the same thought process as Ambrose. They have the same memories of course, more or less the same mental capacities; the only difference is how they react to it. And the Doctor is worried. Deeply worried. If he's split free, that means the Master is probably also wandering around somewhere. He can feel that much. A presence in his mind, but far too distant and vague for him to pinpoint it.

First of all, where is he? His surroundings aren't much help. Back in his old body, he could've smelled it. He's not sure how reliable this new nose is, but he hasn't the memories to recall which place smells like what anymore in any case. It definitely doesn't look much like Hedenex, though.

He prods the shoulder of a random patron. "Pardon me, but could you tell me where I am?"

--

Meanwhile, approximately right between the two others, in the back of a dark McDonalds on 42nd street, right off Times Square, the Master version of James wakes up.

He, unlike the two others, is not quite so worried, once he's realised what's happened. In fact, he's rather delighted. His personality is often kept quite buried, at least compared to the other two. He's not so keen on finding them, though he feels that they're here somewhere, now he's finally got a body of his own.

He grins to himself, and pushes out the backdoor of the restaurant, out onto 41st street. It's not particularly crowded, but there are a few walking around. "You, human, where am I?" he asks one of them.

Comments

[fragmentation]

James nods. "It's possible. Here, can I show you?" he asks, putting his hands on Andrew's head to pull him closer again. He won't show anything until he has permission, though. He's trying very hard to sell this.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew still isn't questioning the legitimacy of the James before him, though the introduction of the possibility of copies might make him start to suspect if the Master isn't careful. "Of course," he nods, willingly leaning in to make contact.

[fragmentation]

Hey, you have to play to win, right? And there's only so long he can keep the other hims a secret anyway, so turning Andrew against them from the beginning is his best bet.

It takes much more concentration this time, because he has to invent and change things, not just focus on what to show. Some of it's true. The feeling of being hunted, of having limited time. That they're like him, part of him, but also different and working against him. That they can find him. That he's afraid.

Other things are not so real, or are twisted to give a different impression. Their darkness and cruelty. That they'll take him over, possess him - make him hurt Andrew, even.

The Master doesn't realise just how much energy this is taking out of him until he nearly blacks out. The connection is severed as he staggers, his legs not willing to hold him.

[bluesuit_handy]

The corners of Andrew's mouth draw ever downward as his frown deepens. His eyes remain shut as he keeps his forehead pressed against James's, paying close attention to everything he's shown. The revelation that they're not just like him, but part of him gets a wave of confusion sent back the Master's way, but it's not until James suddenly breaks the connection that he opens his eyes.

"What?" he asks, disoriented for a moment -- then he sees that James is practically falling over, and reaches out to grip his upper arms and steady him.

[fragmentation]

He manages to stay upright, just barely, by clutching onto Andrew, but he doesn't waste time before sitting down on the bed to collect himself a little, his legs still wobbly. He hadn't expected that to happen. But the sympathy play probably won't hurt.

"Sorry... I've been trying to hide myself from them telepathically, and it takes a lot out of me," he admits, taking a few deep breaths.

[bluesuit_handy]

"You shouldn't push yourself so soon after changing," says Andrew, worried, as he sits down beside James. It's useless advice, he knows, if James is forced to shield himself.

[fragmentation]

The Master smiles half-heartedly, and reaches out to take Andrew's hand. "I don't know how long it will take them to find me," he says worriedly. "...I think we should leave the city. I mean, I don't want to run away, but I think they're too strong for me."

[bluesuit_handy]

"It's that bad?" asks Andrew, his concern only growing. He frowns, reaching out to tuck some of James's hair behind his ear. "From what I hear, they'll try to stop us," he comments. "Our big bad government, I mean. And possibly the rebels, I don't think they're big on potential recruits skipping down."

[fragmentation]

The Master frowns. Oh, of course they would have to stick their nose into it, wouldn't they? He wonders if there's any possibility of them protecting him. But surely he'd be found out eventually, once they got the other side of the story.

"I'm not sure. I haven't met them, I've just felt them. But I know they look like me, and I'm pretty sure they have my memories."

[bluesuit_handy]

"And you're sure they're...I dunno, bad?" It's not that Andrew doesn't believe him -- far from it -- but the idea of evil Jameses running about is upsetting enough that he'd really like to disprove it.

[fragmentation]

"They feel bad," he answers, frowning with (partially faked) worry. "I've been getting these... vibes, I dunno, like they're hunting me. And if they've taken my memories, how good can they be?"

He runs a hand through his hair - he's starting to get jittery and annoyed from not running off immediately. "And they might not be, it's true, but better safe then sorry, right? Until we know more."

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew takes James's hand and squeezes it. Whatever's going on, it's got him really spooked, hasn't it? "Alright," he agrees. "If we can get past whoever tries to keep us in, maybe they'll be able to hold back your doppelgangers until we get a better idea what's going on. Let me say goodbye to someone, though?"

And hey, maybe Daine can help -- or maybe someone can.

[fragmentation]

The Master smiles, relieved Andrew's agreed, but still impatient to get a move on.

"Alright. Just don't be long." He tries very hard not to make it sound like a threat. It still feels like one in his mind.

[bluesuit_handy]

With a reassuring smile, Andrew leans in and gives James a quick kiss before hopping up from the bed. "I'll be back before you know it," he says, already hurrying out the door.

[fragmentation]

The Master smiles - oh how he hopes this will go alright. He quite likes interacting with Andrew in this fashion.

The moment Andrew's out the door, however, the Master starts rummaging through his stuff, careful not to move things so much as to be noticable. There's not much of interest, but he does pocket a Swiss Army knife, just in case. He finishes searching before Andrew gets back.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew hasn't been quite honest with James. He'll run, sure, leave the city -- but he's gone and sent a message to the rebel leaders about what's going on. Of course, he wasn't entirely honest with them, either; it'd hardly help their chances of getting out of Manhattan if he told them they intend to do so.

He returns a bit breathless, barging in and immediately holding a hand out to James. "Come on -- we'll take the subway, harder for them to screen rifties from commuters."

[fragmentation]

The Master gets up immediately, taking Andrew's hand. Well, he's glad Andrew hasn't been shuffling lazily about, at least, and that he's had a moment to collect himself. He's still trying to shield himself from being found, but his mind is tired and he's not sure how well it's working.

"I'll take your word for it," he answers as he follows Andrew's lead.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew doesn't actually know that, but it stands to reason that it'll be harder to pick them out of a crowd. He steals a quick kiss, pausing only to grab one or two useful items (including the nifty communicator he picked up yesterday) and shove them in his pockets. Nothing here is really his, after all, so no loss leaving it behind.

"Can you tell if they're near?" he asks, hurrying James along.

[fragmentation]

"Not really," he answers, trying to focus on both the link between them and not running into walls at the same time. "I think they're shielding themselves from me too, now."

And it's much more difficult for him (and the Doctor) to really use the link as much as Ambrose can.

[bluesuit_handy]

That's okay; Andrew can direct him once he realizes James is having issues. If he realizes James is having issues, which he might if James runs into a wall.

"One of the entrances is linked to a subway station," he says reassuringly. "We'll be there in a moment."

And actually, he's doing rather well at navigating the place. They'll just have to blow past Phil on the way out.

[fragmentation]

The Master manages, helped quite a bit that they're holding hands while they run, and he can just let himself be led as they make their way into the subway station and try to find a train that will take them somewhere.

They're not the only ones who've arrived, though, as the Doctor and Ambrose are stepping off the B train, tracing the Master as best they can. He's at almost the same level as them, which means he's likely in the subway station as well. Which probably means he's going somewhere, so they speed up, running up the stairs to find the other tracks.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew pulls James over to the first map he spots, forehead creasing as his eyes rove over the lines and markings. "That one," he suggests, pointing at one of the colorful lines on the map. He can see that James is struggling, and does his best to steady his lover as they go to the platform.

[fragmentation]

"They're close," he says, leaning heavily on Andrew as they descend the stairs onto the platform, where there's thankfully a train waiting for them.

"Andrew!" The shout comes from behind them at the top of the stairs, from one of the copies.

The Master spins around, abandoning his telepathic blocks, and jumps inside the closest train car, pulling Andrew along with him. He knows he won't be able to outrun them in this state, but if the doors close, they might still make it...

They don't.

The other two Jameses dodge inside the car just before the doors close. Which means the Master and Andrew can't get out either.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew's frozen for a moment, staring at the two other Jameses -- they look so perfectly alike that he has to question for a moment --

He staggers as he's yanked inside the car, not getting a chance to recover before the doors shut and he realizes they're trapped inside with the doppelgangers. Bracing himself on the nearest pole, he grips James's hand as reassuringly as he can. "Stay back," he warns the others, though he's already scrutinizing them as he waits to see what they'll do -- there must be some detail, something they've got wrong.

[fragmentation]

The Master is a lot more steady now he doesn't need to focus so much, but he's still terrified. This is unlikely to end well.

Ambrose and the Doctor don't move besides gripping onto poles as the train starts to move. They have no intention of attacking unless it becomes necessary, and they clearly look worried rather than aggressive.

"Andrew, be careful," Ambrose warns tensely. "He's got the Master's personality. I'm James, and he's got the Doctor's personality," he says, talking loudly over the din of the train and gesturing at the James next to him.