Master's Laser Screwdriver

Lore & Background

The Laser Screwdriver marks a deliberate divergence from the Doctor's non-lethal code. While the sonic screwdriver is famously constrained by locks made of wood or its refusal to act as a weapon, the Laser Screwdriver embraces violence as a solution. John Simm's incarnation notably deployed it while serving as Prime Minister of the UK under the alias of Harold Saxon and during plots involving planetary subjugation. Its rotating head emits a concentrated beam capable of cutting through materials or disabling electronics instantly. The device underscores the ideological split between the two Time Lords: where the Doctor seeks to fix with sound, the Master controls and destroys with light.

In Their Own Story

The air in the control room hummed with a tension that had nothing to do with the machinery. The Master stood before the console, his fingers dancing over the keys with practiced ease, but it was the device resting on the desk that caught the light. With a sharp click, he activated it. A beam of brilliant azure light sliced through the darkness, not merely unlocking the heavy blast door ahead but vaporizing the locking mechanism in an instant. He didn't bother to check if the path was clear; he knew it would be. 'Why knock when you can simply erase?' he murmured, the blue glow reflecting in his eyes as he stepped forward, leaving a trail of scorched metal and absolute authority behind him.

Reader's Guide

Functioning as a high-tech multi-tool designed for rapid problem-solving through forceful means, the Laser Screwdriver serves three primary roles in the Master's arsenal: technical manipulation, defensive capability, and offensive warfare. Technically, it interfaces with complex computer systems, overrides security protocols, and disables electronic locks instantly, often bypassing the need for physical force or manual entry. In combat, the beam delivers precise energy damage to machinery and organic targets alike, serving as an extension of his will against Daleks, Sontarans, and human military forces.

Did You Know?

• The Laser Screwdriver was wielded by John Simm's incarnation of the Master, who became Prime Minister of the UK under the alias of Harold Saxon.
• Unlike the Doctor's sonic screwdriver, which refuses to act as a weapon, the Laser Screwdriver embraces violence as a solution.
• The device emits a concentrated beam of blue light capable of cutting through materials or disabling electronics instantly.
• The Laser Screwdriver reflects the Master's militaristic philosophy, bypassing security systems or delivering precise energy blasts against foes.