The Doctor raised his hands in exasperation. ‘Erase all this then, start again! I’ll defeat you next time. I’ll always find a way to defeat you!’ His voice rose to a shout, and Mortimus took a step backwards. Something inside the Doctor had found a strange freedom. ‘How many times, Mortimus? How long will it take you to realize that this… game… is futile?!’

‘I could simply cause you never to be born.’

‘There’ll be others.’

‘I could blackmail you with the life or torture of every companion you ever had.’

‘They’ll bear it.’

‘I could show you every aspect of your personal pain.’

‘Then do it! Do it!’ The words tumbled from the Doctor’s mouth.

‘But don’t tell me that you’re somehow better than me. Ace never betrayed me. She betrayed you. Call your Chronovore. Get it over with.’ He stared Mortimus straight in the eye. ‘Repeat these games

time after time, she’ll never stay with you, you’ll never be able to win. Whatever you do, I have my TARDIS. I have my companions, I have my name. I am the Doctor… and you’re not!