The Master, while he quite often amused himself with devices of his own making, did not strictly keep to himself. This new found truce, of sorts, with the Valeyard, demanded his presence at various times. He still knew little of the intricacies of the Valeyard's relationship with the Atraxi, and remained reluctant to play any hidden cards too soon.

The guards on the ship were subdued yet tense, a steady thrum of fear pulsed through all aboard (save the Master), making the air seem to ripple around them as if it were a living thing. It might have thrilled him if he were not so intent on dispelling the cause of it. The Master could feel the sense of wrong that reverberated through the universe outside of the ship as well, it remained a steady reminder of what he might eventually have to do.

But that time was not at hand, and he took a small comfort in that. The universe was bearable in the fact that a part of the Doctor was still in it, he shuddered to think of a universe without.