Martha-meets-Mr-Saxon fic, soon to be canon-shafted

[tree_and_leaf]

What it says on the tin. Works on the basis of widely held fan assumptions about this season's Big Bad.

Characters: Martha, Mr Saxon (gen)
Rating: PG at most.
Spoilers (I suppose) for the trailer and various rumours. The Doctor etc are property of the BBC, and so on. Misappropriation of a Sayers line.




“I’m not going to help you find the Doctor” said Martha, furiously, “Forget it, Mr Saxon, or whoever you are.”

Saxon smiled quizzically at her, his head tilted to one side. “I was afraid you’d say that. I do wonder how he manages to inspire such loyalty in all those bright young people. I know how I’d do it, but he always claims to be above bribery and mind control. So high minded. And such a menace.”

“He’s a good person.”

“Oh, I’m sure” said Saxon. “He’s always so worried about being good. But you know, the funny thing is, he’s killed a lot more people than I have. Just through being good. Isn’t that a delicious irony?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You disappoint me, Martha. Didn’t he warn you against me? Didn’t he tell you I was evil?”

“He said you were ruthless. Older than you look, and even more desperate. He said you’d kill without a second thought, if you could get anything out of it,” she said flatly.

“Ah, the dear Doctor. So scrupulously fair. “

“It’s nothing to be proud of.”

“Did I say it was? No. That’s the difference between the Doctor and me, you see. I only interfere when it will do me some good. Whereas the Doctor meddles all the time, on a whim, when it suits his idea of morality. He never stays to help pick up the bodies, of course, no, it’s off to the next exciting adventure. Like a little boy’s fantasy of being a hero.”

There was a long, nasty pause. Then Saxon spoke again, lightly this time. “Do you know how your cousin Adeola died?”

“She died in Canary Wharf. When the Cybermen came.”

“Yes, she did. And do you know who killed her? Your precious Doctor. Didn’t he think to tell you?”

Martha shuddered, uncontrollably. “He doesn’t just kill people for no reason. You don’t get me that easily.”

“No? But I’m not lying, you know. Oh, he’d say that it was because the Cybermen were using her, and I dare say it’s true. But it’s funny that he never made any effort to save her. He just killed her. Just like that.”

“And you’d have saved her, I suppose” snapped Martha. Whatever the Doctor had or hadn’t done, it didn’t make Saxon any more trustworthy.

“No,” he said equably. “I’d have killed her – unless I saw some advantage in keeping someone with Cyber tech around. But it would probably have been too big a risk.”

“Then what’s your point?”

“My point is that I never claimed to be the nice one. I never tried to save any civilisations or meddled in things that didn’t concern me. And I didn’t spread chaos and destruction over half the galaxy in order to gratify my own conscience. I don’t gather up waifs and strays, and make them trust me, and then abandon them to their fate. All those people the Doctor’s let down… you’ve no idea. And you might get him to admit that he feels bad about it, but you know, that doesn’t help them. He’s the sort of person who’d maroon his own granddaughter on a planet which had been ruined by the Daleks in order to make a point. Principles? There’s nothing more deadly, Martha. You’re safer with an opportunist like me. There’s some limit to the harm we’ll do.”

… “I still won’t tell you” Martha whispered.

Saxon shook his head regretfully. “I warned you” he said. “Nothing more deadly than principles. Guards? Work her over.”

Comments

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Very nice. It sums up a lot about this Doctor.

There's something enjoyable about writing fanfic ahead of time (I did that with the tenth Doctor) just to see whether you end up being right. And of course the story stands regardless.

[tree_and_leaf]

Thank you - there's something fun about writing predictions-cum-meta in the form of fic (if only one could do that in academia! My thesis would be so much more fun to write...)

I think it's a criticism you could label at all the Doctors (except maybe One, who is a bit of an opportunist himself, at least initially - I haven't seen much Hartnell era); it doesn't make "Mr Saxon" preferable, but the point stands....

[sacred-sarcasm.livejournal.com]

Lovely; Saxon's very close to the truth here, isn't he?

It puts me in mind of a line from (?) Pratchett, who says you know where you are with an opportunist because he'll always do what's best for him, but you never know when a good person will do something downright stupid.

I'd love to know how the Dr. Who team are planning to manage the Adeola/Martha/Doctor issues.

[tree_and_leaf]

Oh, everything Saxon says here is entirely true - from a certain viewpoint.

The line you refer too does sound Pratchett like, although at the moment the only similar quotation I can think of is the one that goes something 'If you're up against someone who really, truly wants you dead, pray you're facing a bad man, because a bad man will stop to gloat, which gives you a chance. A good man will kill you at once."

I'd love to know how the Dr. Who team are planning to manage the Adeola/Martha/Doctor issues.

So do I - I hope they're planning to go somewhere with it. It's an interestinf dynamic and not one (I think) that we've seen between Doctor and companion before. (One could tie in the scene where Martha kills the pig-men, and then is remorseful: it's a very close parallel in moral terms. I wonder if that's why that scene was there, in plot-arc terms)

[almost-clara.livejournal.com]

Nothing more deadly than principles.

Very much the case with the Doctor - lovely. (Though exploring those issues with Martha might become quite exciting...)

[tree_and_leaf]

Yes, indeed. I hope they do go somewhere with it (and not in an excessively angsty way - but the implications do need to be considered). Though Martha has killed for the same reason the Doctor killed Adeola... mid you, this isn't a reflection which would make her moher less anti-Doctor!

[harriet-wimsey.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Doctor Who, but Lord Peter certainly speaks of the deadliness of principles in Gaudy Night, and it's perfectly true. It won't stop me from having principles, of course, but it's good to realize their power.

[tree_and_leaf]

Doctor Who is great fun; as you probably know, it's the adventures of an alien traveller through time and space accompanied by a selection of (mostly human) friends, continually stumbling across adventures and wrongs that need righting). He's capable of regenerateing into a new body when killed.

You noticed, of course, the line I stole; I sometimes see similarities between the Doctor and Peter (minus the SF elements, obviously). Also (I cite in evidence the above icon) Peter Davison, who played the Doctor's fifth incarnation, would have made a perfect Wimsey, even though he doesn't wuite have the nose. It's a shame he's too old now...

[harriet-wimsey.livejournal.com]

It's hard for me to think of Peter Davison as anything but Tristan, but you may be right. He certainly does have the look. I've got lots of Who-fans on my flist, so I hear about it all the time--I think I'd quite enjoy it, if I only had access to the show.

[tree_and_leaf]

I don't agree with Saxon's conclusion, either, but you can't duck unpleasant truths like the price of ethics...

[themolesmother.livejournal.com]

That’s the difference between the Doctor and me, you see. I only interfere when it will do me some good. Whereas the Doctor meddles all the time, on a whim, when it suits his idea of morality. He never stays to help pick up the bodies, of course, no, it’s off to the next exciting adventure. Like a little boy’s fantasy of being a hero.”

I love this bit. From Saxon's warped perspective it's a perfectly reasonable view of the Doctor.

The poor Doctor - always doing "what is right" rather than "what is easy" to quote a certain Albus Dumbledore.

And Saxon - he's got to be the Master, hasn't he???? *Jumps up and down with excitement* My favourite Who villain of all time!!! Now all they have to do is bring back Romana and kill off Captain Jack for good and yours truly will be over the moon!

MM

[tree_and_leaf]

Thank you! Poor Doctor, indeed - it's a thankless task.

I will be very surprised if Saxon isn't the Master, or at least possessed by him. I'm afraid we're probably stuck with Captain Jack, though (although it wouldn't be so bad if they'd confine him to Torchwood, as I'm pretending that that never happened...)

[hydref.livejournal.com]

Nice little fic. I like how you deal with Martha finding out that the Doctor killed Adeola, I'd love to see how it's dealt with in the programme - hope they do mention it.

[tree_and_leaf]

Thanks - I hope the subject comes up, too!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I know how I’d do it, but he always claims to be above bribery and mind control.

On the basis of this, I am very much looking forward to meeting Mr Saxon. Or the Master, who I've had explained to me, but never actually seen.

[tree_and_leaf]

Thank you! I'm intrigued by the prospect too (well, obviously, since I'm ficcing it). I must see if the library has any decent Mastercentric Who; alas, the only Who I won which features the Master is 'The Claws os Axos', which turns out to be a bit rubbish, really. But the Master was good value, despite a slight tendency to go into pantomime villain mode in some of the poorer stories.

I'm looking forward to John Simm, though - the last episode of Life on Mars suggests a considerable talent for innocent looking, charming darkness.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I don't necessarily object to pantomime villain mode. Mind you, the last pantomime I saw involved the demon king coming out of character in the final scene to deliver an impassioned account of the sufferings of the pantomime villain actor, always being booed, never getting a happy ending.

innocent looking, charming darkness
Oh goody.

And could you explain your icon, please?

[tree_and_leaf]

Oh, that's a Life on Mars one: Nelson the barman, who for some reason is given to addressing people thus...

[notfromvenus.livejournal.com]

Yay, Saxon fic! I like. :)

[tree_and_leaf]

Thanks!

[snorkackcatcher]

Nice little scene -- that sounds very much like the polite-but-menacing conversations with Jo Grant in Frontier in Space, almost reasonable-sounding but twisted round as the character always did. :) Nice reference to Susan, too!

[tree_and_leaf]

Thanks - that was the sort of thing I was trying to do!

Hm.. must watch Frontier in Space again some time, assuming copies are actually available...

[oltha_heri.livejournal.com]

I love you. This was brilliant, I just loved the whole thing. The Saxon has me in so much anticipation.

[tree_and_leaf]

Why thank you! I'm really excited about The Oncoming Saxon, too...