The entity floated in the Vortex, waiting. How long it had been there did not matter. What it wanted was a body; and revenge. Oh yes, it definitely wanted revenge!

It sensed a TARDIS enter the Vortex from normal space on a course for Gallifrey, and it moved closer, the machine's force-field barely slowing it down. It entered, and found two young Time Lords lying unconscious on the floor. One had a mild head injury. She had apparently dragged her companion into the ship and activated the Fast Return switch before collapsing. The other was bleeding from an inadequately bandeged wound. He was most likely to undergo his First Regeneration soon, the most dangerous one of all. The entity joined with him, and activated the regeneration process.

As Fenoria awakened, she silently cursed Cardinal Zorac. "A simple research mission," he'd said, "What could possibly go wrong?" Rutans, that's what! Then she noticed a strange man in Doren's clothes, unwrapping a very blood-soaked bandage. He must have regenerated, she thought guiltily. "Doren," she said, "I'm sorry, I..." The man stroked his dark beard and smiled. When he spoke, his voice was rich and cultured: "I am the Master, and you will obey me..."