The Regenesis Experiment [Complete Story]

[Fitz Kreiner]

The star Phragios shone with a strong yellow light. A light and heat that radiated out and gave a life bearing atmosphere to its fifth planet; Telris. The inhabitants of the planet busied themselves with their lives, unaware of the events that were occurring in deep space that would change the future of their world forever. Events that would circulate around three things; the mysterious construct just outside the settlement of the planet; the two heavily armed battleships closing in rapidly on the unsuspecting planet and an out of place Metropolitan Police Telephone Box, that wasn’t actually a Police Telephone Box, situated in a place where there was no time and no space.
The mysterious construct had been on the planet since before the current inhabitants had arrived and found the settlement and started new lives for themselves, and remained a mystery for the five generations that the planet had been occupied. The fact that the settlement existed proved that Telris had been inhabited previously, however, no trace was ever found of this civilisation other than the settlement. What had happened to them was unknown. The current inhabitants had, by now, forgotten about the previous inhabitants of the planet, and interest had waned in finding a way into the construct. Life continued on the planet as normal; children played in the fields and streets while the men and women worked to help support the society. Everyone worked together to make the society work; and work it did, peacefully.
The two battleships approaching Telris had travelled some great distance, yet it was no coincidence that they had chosen this particular planet. The conditions were perfect, the inhabitants and the location of the planet. Telris was far enough away from other space lanes for nobody to notice the invasion and the experiment that would be conducted there. It was also far enough away from the home world to hush up and eliminate any mistakes in the unlikely event that they should occur. Mistakes could not be tolerated, not on this mission.
The Police Box that wasn’t a Police Box was in actual fact one of the most complex space/time events in the universe. It was a space/time machine called a TARDIS belonging to a being called the Doctor, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. However, this TARDISs’ travel wasn’t going as smooth as its pilot, the Doctor, had hoped for. It had been snared by a temporal beacon emitting from a Cyber base on the planet Telris. Inside the ship, the Doctor and his two companions, Jess and Tom, clung desperately to the console as the TARDIS bucked and jolted in its struggle to free itself from the snare.
“The beacon is malfunctioning, making travel rough. It’s reaching out into the vortex, dragging us down.” The Doctor yelled over the noise in the console room.
“Isn’t there anything we can do to free ourselves?” Jess shouted back, grabbing hold of both the Doctor and the console for support as the TARDIS shook violently again.
“I’m trying.” The Doctor replied trying to reach round the console to another panel without being thrown to the floor. “Tom, can you reach that switch there?” He shouted to the young Time Lord who was struggling to support himself on the opposite side of the console.
Tom groaned in pain as he reached round to the switch the Doctor had indicated with his bad arm, gripping the console with the other. Another jolt almost caused Tom to loose his footing making him struggle to get back to the console. “Not quite!” He shouted back, wincing as pain lanced up his arm. “Hold on, try and hold her steady.” Briefly letting go of the console, Tom threw himself at the panel, flicking at the switch. The shuddering in the console room died down and the whine of the engines died down.
“I think you got it!” The Doctor beamed at Tom, letting go of the console.
Jess breathed a sigh of relief and stood up straight, letting go of the console too. “Is that it then?” She asked. “We free of the Master?”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s long gone, he doesn’t tend to hang-” The Doctor was cut off as all three travellers were thrown to the floor by a savage jolt, as the TARDIS lurched again and explosions of sparks erupted from the console. The light in the console room dimmed and the ship began to tremble.
“I think you spoke to soon.” Tom yelled from the floor, reaching up to pull himself up with the console.
“I should have guessed!” The Doctor cursed himself, “The Master does have a bit of a sting in his tail, always leaves second trap.”
“What’s that?” Jess shouted, clinging to the console for dear life. A chiming sound could just be heard coming from beep within the TARDIS.
“The Cloister Bell!” The Doctor shouted back. “We’re in trouble! Tom, I’m going to need your help.”
“What do you want me to do?” Tom yelled over a new noise. A heavy creaking sound started to come from behind him.
Noticing the noise, the urgency in the Doctors voice became apparent. “We’re going to have to rematerialise in space for a fraction of a second, before dematerialising on another path to slip this snare.”
“What’s the fraction?” Tom responded.
“About a fiftieth of a second.” The Doctor shouted back, linking an arm through Jess’ and gripping the console, whilst manically tapping some controls with the other. “I’m sending you across some co-ordinates and figures; I want you to input them.” The Doctor was staring behind Tom at the main doors to the TARDIS. “And hold on tight. Both of you, this could be incredibly rough.”
The creaking sound was increasing in volume, almost drowning out all other sound in the console room.
“Doctor!” Jess yelled pointing at the doors behind Tom. A chink of light could be seen between them slowly getting larger.
“Yes!” The Doctor shouted back, “It’s forcing the doors. Tom, quick!” He yelled.
A wind was starting to whip round the inside of the console room, coming from the widening gap in the main doors. Starting off as a slight breeze, it was soon whipping the travellers’ clothes and hair and starting to buffer them about slightly. The Doctors chair toppled in a sudden gust which also nearly swept Jess off her feet. The TARDIS started to tilt, tipping towards the now open doors.
“I can’t do it.” Tom screamed over the noise of the now gale that whipped round the room.
The young Time Lord was struggling to keep hold of the console, with the combination of the winds and increasing floor angle. The Doctors chair suddenly flew across the room and out the doors, accompanied by the other furniture in the room.
“I can’t hold on much longer.” Tom cried out.
“Tom!” Jess started screaming, feeling the pull of the winds on her.
“The door controls!” The Doctor yelled desperately. “Close the door!”
Tom struggled to reach out to the door control lever, fighting hard against the pull of the beacon and vortex. Toms groan of pain turned to a scream of panic and fear as he felt his feet slip and his fingers loose their hold on the console, and the faces of Jess and the Doctor, fixed in looks of pure horror disappeared into a brief swirling maelstrom, then pitch blackness.

[Fitz Kreiner]

“Tom!” Jess screamed, tears suddenly streaming down her face as her travelling companion was sucked out of the TARDIS and vanished into the vortex.
“Jess, hold on and stay here!” The Doctor yelled, climbing onto the console. Reaching out he attempted to reach the door control. Hooking his feet on the side of the console and feeling the winds of the vortex grab at him, the Doctor stretched across the panels and slammed his hand down at the door control. Reaching slightly further across, he slammed his hand down on another control and the TARDIS stopped bucking and the lighting returned to normal, causing the Doctor to fall from the console landing in a heap on the floor, breathing heavily. Looking up, he saw Jess was still gripping the console, her knuckles white, staring shocked at the doors, tears streaming down her face. “Jess?” The Doctor asked, getting to his feet. “Jess, are you alright?” He asked, checking instruments on the console, rushing around from panel to panel.
“Tom. He’s gone.” She said shakily.
“I know, I’m trying to find him.” The Doctor said, darting about the console.
“Is he dead?”
“I hope not. If I’m right, the beacon was designed to snare and pull down in, well, put simply, a form of time corridor. Now, if I am right, then Tom will have fallen down that corridor to the source. All we have to do is track it and aim for the source and, fingers crossed, find Tom there.”
“What if you’re wrong.”
“Trust me!” The Doctor smiled at her. “I know temporal technology and logically, that’s the only way that the Cybermen would have constructed that snare.”
“So it was the Cybermen?” Jess asked
“Oh yes. The Master just added a nasty little kick into the snare, his way of saying ‘thanks’ apparently.”
“So Tom will be ok?”
“Yes, probably just a little bruised and worse for wear. He was lucky we were caught in this snare, otherwise the vortex would have ripped his body apart.”
Jess swallowed hard, trying not to think about that happening. “So, we’ll find him there?”
“All going well, don’t worry.” The Doctor smiled again. “The Master already knew him, therefore will meet him and therefore Tom is still alive.”
Jess went to rub her eyes, but pulled back in surprise when she noticed her finger nails were far longer than they should be. Looking down at her hands, several strands of long wavy reddish brown hair fell over her eyes. Feeling at her head, Jess found that her hair had seemingly grown almost considerably from being at her shoulders, also the black hair dye she did have seemed to have faded, giving way to her natural colour. She looked up at the Doctor, who still looked as he always did, seemingly not even a hair out of place.
“Doctor?” She asked, looking bemused.
The Doctor looked up at her, looking her up and down. “Yes, that’ll be the effects of the vortex.” He said. “Accelerating the growth of your hair and fingernails.”
“How come it didn’t do anything to you?” Jess asked.
“I’m a Time Lord. I’ve been about a bit you know, and I’ve had similar experiences to this before.” The Doctor replied, still busy at the console.
“I think I’m gonna need another shower, and to do my nails!” Jess said looking down at her hands again. “Are you sure that we’ll meet Tom when we get to the base?” Jess asked looking back at the Doctor. She could feel the tears welling in her eyes again.
The Doctor continued working at the console.
“Doctor?!” Jess almost snapped, getting the Time Lords attention. “We’ll meet Tom when we get there?”
“Oh, yes.” The Doctor smiled at her. “He’s probably starting to get impatient now!”
Jess smiled a watery smile back at the Doctor before heading out of the console room.
“At least, I hope he’s ok.” The Doctor said quietly to himself, trying hard not to think of any of the other possible scenarios he daren’t tell Jess about. “Ah-ha!” he cried out after a few more minutes work. “Found you!” Reaching around the console, the Doctor activated the dematerialisation.

The two battleships silently entered orbit of Telris, the Commander of the command ship sending silent communications to the commander of the second ship. Not that the inhabitants of the planet below were scanning the space above them for any communication, it was just the way things were. The Command ship was to remain in orbit to oversee the operation from a distance and provide support should the unthinkable happen; the experiment goes wrong. All the equipment and materials were stored on board the second ship, which now lowered its orbital path into the atmosphere of Telris. As the ship neared planet fall, death squads and patrols began to gather and organise for disembarkment, ready to carry out their orders.
The inhabitants of the planet looked up in amazement and awe at the sight of a space craft entering their atmosphere, flying over head and finally coming about and landing by a large crater near the settlement. The amazement of those who were brave enough to approach the craft soon turned to horror as the vessels bay doors opened and the first of the patrols emerged into the midday light. Unsure what to do, some ran, others just stood there, rooted to the spot in terror. The alien patrols moved out of the ship and started rounding up the inhabitants nearby. Those few that didn’t co-operate were shot dead on the spot.

[Fitz Kreiner]

Panic spread throughout the settlement like wildfire. Parents ran to the streets to find their children, children ran screaming and crying and stampedes started as the alien patrols encroached the settlement. Casualties remained on the low side, causing some confusion amongst the captured, who were being herded by patrols back to the ship. A sudden commotion broke out further into the settlement and the sound of much screaming and alien weapon fire could be heard. Those in the prison escort spun at the sound of this but were swiftly moved on by the patrols. In the middle of the settlement, a small group of the Inhabitants had tried to fight back with whatever they could get their hands on. The small uprising had been spectacularly unsuccessful. Only two people had been killed by the invaders. Most had been captured, but a small group had managed to escape.

Darkness. Crushing black darkness and a terrible swirling wind, then nothing. A pounding and thumping. He opened his eyes cautiously. The pounding and thumping was in his head, slowing and ultimately dying out. He moved his hand to get himself into a sitting position. The world swung crazily. He was on some sort of metal grid, a metal grid that was rusty and covered in dust. The light, wherever he was, was very dim; he could only make out shadows. Groaning, Tom cautiously got to his feet. He was stood on a metal grid, looking at the equipment grafted to the walls about the grid; it was some sort of transport grid. A sudden wave of dizziness caused Tom to steady himself on the wall. Tom almost drew back in shock, the wall wasn’t what he was expecting; instead of the cold smooth feel of metal, his hand touched the rough cool texture of stonework.
“That’s not like you.” He muttered to himself.
Tom peered through the gloom trying to make out the features of the room. It was definitely a stone construct with metallic additions and instruments grafted to the walls. It had to be something that the Cybermen moved into, Tom thought. There was a definite light and dark side to some of the features in the room, and some shadows; therefore there had to be a light source somewhere. The dust and rust crunched under Toms’ feet as he walked. Yet, there was something not right. Tom wasn’t sure quite what it was until he brushed absent-mindedly at what he thought was a spider’s web tickling the side of his face. He stopped in shock as not only was the spiders web not a spider’s web, but when he realised that it was actually his own hair, which now fell down past his shoulders. Not only that, but he could feel a beard on his face as well. He was somewhat taken aback by this for a few seconds, also realising that his arm was now healed.
“The vortex!” He realised, exclaiming it out loud to the deserted room. Brushing the stray hair back behind his ears, Tom continued to where he thought the light source was coming from. Entering the main access chamber to the base, Tom paused. To his left was an old dusty control station, and to the left of that were two partly converted Cybermen attached to alcoves in the wall, clearly dead and had been there quite a long time. The flesh parts that had remained had long since decomposed leaving white bones, with metallic components grafted to the, some implants that had been only attached to the flesh lay on the floor. There was no way those Cybermen would ever live, Tom noted. He crossed to the control station. There was no power going to it at all. The layout of one panel of controls caught Toms eye and he looked closely at it, not liking what he saw; reactivation controls.
“Not good.” He muttered to himself. “You’d better get here soon, Doctor.” He said out loud to the ceiling. A sudden noise from outside made Tom spin round. A small beam of light filtered through the dust in the air indicating access to the outside world. Tom made his way cautiously to it, squinting in the harsher light, his eyes having become accustomed to the gloom of the base. It was a small vent, which allowed him to look out at the settlement some small distance away. The vent was next to a pair of heavy doors. Looking again, Tom wondered why people from the settlement had never entered the base. Looking down at where the doors should be, Tom noticed that there was a wall where the doors should be, yet the wall didn’t seem real. Tom looked harder at the ‘wall’, which faded in and out of being.
“Force field.” He nodded to himself. “Clever.” Stepping down from the ledge he was stood on, Tom tried the large doors. Using all his weight and effort, the doors slowly started to creak open enough to allow him to get through the gap. Briefly looking about him, Tom decided to set off to the settlement, not sure where and when the Doctor and Jess would arrive, if they hadn’t already. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been unconscious. Looking at his watch, he saw that the face had completely melted and was now totally unreadable. Sighing, he took it off and threw it aside. Tom suddenly stopped, then broke into a run when he heard a female scream come faintly from the direction of the settlement.

[Fitz Kreiner]

Jess took another look in the mirror and sighed. “Well, I did want to grow it.” She said to herself, running a hand through her now long hair. She took another look at the clothes she’d picked up in the wardrobe the Doctor had directed her to. It wasn’t what she would have called a wardrobe. It was a vast cavernous room filled with numerous racks of clothes from many different periods in history, and some that clearly had to have come from the future and other planets. Jess was amazed to also see a full Batman costume there on a mannequin. After finally coming to a choice of a pair of old faded jeans, a red and black striped t-shirt and a pair of converse sneakers, Jess took them to a room she’d spotted not too far from the console room which contained a bed, dresser and full length mirror. Standing there in her new clothes, Jess looked in the mirror again and smiled, before looking round the room. It could soon be made homely, she thought. The bed was certainly comfy enough, she noted sitting on it. Jess sighed again, trying not to think about what may have happened to Tom. Finally she got to her feet and walked to the console room.
“Doctor, I-” She began before noticing that the Time Lord was nowhere to be seen. Jess crossed to the console. The central column was still moving; therefore the ship was still in flight. “Doctor?” Jess called again. A new chair had appeared in the console room, along with a new table and new books on it. It was almost as if the doors hadn’t been forced open dragging the rooms’ furniture and Tom out. Jess went and sat down on the new chair; high backed with rich blue velvet upholstery. Looking at one of the piles of books that had been placed there, Jess was fascinated to see seven Harry Potter novels, all with different titles.
“They haven’t released the third yet.” She muttered to herself picking up, what turned out to be, the first edition of ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’. “September 1999.” Jess read the publish date before turning back to the table. “There’s four more?”
“Yes. Although J.K. did get a few minor facts wrong, but let’s not quibble over that.” The Doctor said.
His voice made jess start and turn round. He was stood by the console, idley tapping a few controls with his right hand, and checking his pockethingych with his left. “How long have you been there?” She asked.
“Just arrived.” The Doctor said slipping his watch back into his pocket. “Had to nip down to the power room to make sure that the temproal beakon hadn’t caused much damage to the TARDIS’ systems.”
“And did it?” Jess asked.
“No, none at all, thankfully.” The Doctor flicked a few more switches on the console. “And more news on the positive side of things, we should be arriving at Telris within the next couple of minutes. If my calculations are correct, almost the same time as Tom should be arriving.”
“How?” Jess asked. “I mean, how would he get there?”
“Erm, the snare would have reached in and pulled him down to the Cyber base, like a tractor beam. I imagine it was designed to draw other Cybermen to that place to rebuild the Cyber army.” The Doctor explained. “Putting it in its most simple form that is.” The Time Lord looked up and smiled. “He’ll be fine.”

“Hello?” Tom called, walking down a small street in the settlement. “Anyone there?” The whole settlement seemed completely deserted. Stopping, Tom listened carefully. He hadn’t heard anything for a while. Now he could certainly hear something; running feet. Running towards him. Suddenly a small group of cloaked and hooded figures burst out of a side street and turned his way. From the glimpses he caught of their faces, they were terrified and running for their lives. Tom stood to the spot, unsure of how to react to this, untill one got close to him and reached out, almost pulling him off his feet.
“Do you want to die? Run!” A female voice shouted at him.
Tom Looked back the way the figures had run from then back to them before turning back to the way they had come. Two powerful high engergy bolts slammed into the wall opposite the side street they had run from. This was enough, Tom turned on his heel and sprinted after the figures. Running with all his might, he was soon in the midst of the group.
“What the hell is going on?” He shouted.
“Are you simple? We’re being slaughtered!” A figure shouted back. A male voice this time, not the one who told him to run.
Tom glanced back over his shoulder and immediately wished he hadn’t. An energy bolt whizzed past his head and struck one of the group in the back, throwing him forwards to the floor in an electic haze, convulsing horrifically. Tom had to leap to avoid stumbling in the falling body, and found himself running with the group, like a flock of birds, he thought, evaiding a predator. Rounding another corner, he found himself being ushered through a small hole in a wall.
“Look, could somebody please tell me what in the name of hell the-?” Tom began.
“They’re right behind us. This place is a maze, we can easily lose them.” It was the female vioce that had told him to run.
Tom needed no further encouragement, setting off down a passage with the strange group.
“We’re going underground, aren’t we?” He asked, noting the sloping floor.
“Just a few tunnels under this section of the settlement.” The figure infront of him confirmed. “Where we’re going, they can’t follow. We’ll be safe.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it, and the Doctor is here.” Tom muttered to himself, following the figure ahead of him through a narrow opening.
“Taron, you keep a look out.” She said turning back to the last figure in the line. The figure nodded and stayed outside the gap. “But who are you?” The figure pulled her hood back.

[Fitz Kreiner]

Tom was looking about the room. “Not badly light,” he said to noone in particular. “Bright enough to see, yet not over the top. I like it. How’d you manage it? Actually, never mind.” He said spotting small lights embedded in the walls at the top, where they met the roof.
“I asked who you were.” The figure said grabbing hold of Toms arm. “You’re not from here are you?”
“No, quite right. Just a visitor, passing through, or at least I should be.” Tom replied. “Sorry, my name’s Tom. I’m meant to be travelling with some friends, but we got seperated and I ended up here. They shouldn’t be too far behind.” Tom looked round at his apprent savious then to the girl who shouted the warning and asked who he was. She was stood there looking at him quizzically with deep and bright blue eyes. Blonde hair fell to her shoulders. “Erm, yeah.” Tom paused. “Sorry, excuse me for staring, it’s rude. For a moment I thought- no, never mind. My friend should be able to help us with our little problem upstairs as well.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” The girl said.
“Your uninvited guests.” Tom said. “I assume they are uninvited and we’re not-”
“No, they’re invading us.”
“Well don’t worry, the Doctor does this sort of thing day in day out I understand.”
“Doctor?” The girl looked at Tom strangely.
“Yes.” Tom said cautiosly, hoping he hadny landed in the middle of yet another group of people who wanted to kill the Doctor. “Sorry, who are you all?” He asked.
“My name is Tifa. That is Taron outside and that is Becas, Dorof, Kalin and Callius.” Tifa said indicating the rest of the now worn out group.
“Well, nice to meet you all.” Tom said looking round and smiling “Looks like theres plenty of time for that being stuck down here for a while.”

The gloom and quiet of the deserted Cyber base was inturrupted by the strained wheezing and groaning of the TARDIS’ engines as the battered police box materialised in a small chamber. After a few seconds the door opened and the Doctor cautiosly stepped out, followed by Jess.
“Tom?” She shouted, causing the Doctor to wince. “Tom, are you here?”
“I really don’t think it would be wise to shout.” He cautioned.
“Don’t you want to find Tom?” Jess asked.
“Yes, but I also don’t want anything that may still be here to find us.” The Doctor whispered.
“What though? This place looks completely deserted, just like the other one.” Jess responded.
“Maybe with the Cybermen, but they’re not the only nasties about. The last Cyber base wasn’t that dead now, was it?”
“Oh, no.” Jess shuddered, remembering. “You think its likely that there is anything about?”
“It all seems quiet enough.” The Doctor said. “But you can never tell.” He paused, looking at something on the floor.
“What is it?” Jess asked.
“My chair. Well, my old chair. The one that was sucked into the vortex.” The Doctor replied, crouching down examining the floor.
Jess looked over the Doctors shoulder. How he could tell it was his chair, she wasn’t sure. It was merely a pile of old rotten wood and some old, worn, tattered cloth. “What happened to it?” She asked.
“The effects of the vortex.”
Jess swallowed hard, looking at the remains of the chair, not wanting to think what she was. “And Tom? Would the same thing have happened to him?” She finally asked.
“Quite simply; no.” The Doctor replied. “He’s about here somewhere, it’s just a question of where.”
“What makes you so sure? I mean, if that happened to the chair, what was to stop it happening to Tom?”
“One; the chair wasn’t a biological organism. A humanoid organism could be converted, so would be kept safe. Two; he’s a Time Lord, like me. And three; the dust has been disturbed over there and there are footprints heading off in that direction.” The Doctor stood up, indicating an area of disturbed dust on a grille and a faint set of footprints. “The thing is, there’s another layer of dust over the prints, indicating that they aren’t fresh. They’ve been there some time.” The Doctor turned to to jess, an embarressed look on his face. “I think we landed a little out.” He said meekly.
“How much is ‘a little’?” Jess asked, starting to get worried again.
“Judging from the dust coverage, only about a week or so but I imagine that Tom might have gotten a little bored, might even be a little annoyed. The poor old girl’s not what she used to be.” The Doctor said, looking at the TARDIS.
“Well, where do you think he went?” Jess asked.
“The prints lead off in that direction.” The Doctor pointed. “And there’s just the one set, so I suggest we follow.” He said, setting off.
Entering the main chamber, the Doctor immediately made for the control panel and began to examine it carefully. The room was illuminated by a thick shaft of light coming from a pair of heavy doors, hanging ajar. Jess looked round the room at the dead Cybermen; a combination of white bones and gleaming metal, and then the light coming from the doors. She walked to them and looked out. The doors were open just wide enough for someone to squeeze out. Jess also spotted the settlement, nestled not too far away. The footprints had stopped at the door, so she assumed Tom had been the one to open them and probably headed to the settlement. She was turning back to put this idea to the Doctor, who was hunched over the dead control panel, when the Time Lord suddenly sprang to life.
“Of course!” He cried. “No wonder the beacon and snare were set up like they were. This is not good. We need to find Tom immediately.”

[Fitz Kreiner]

“Well, there’s some town not too far away, do you think he’s there? But what’s the matter anyway?” Jess asked.
“Although there’s no power at the moment, there’s a whole section there for re-animation. There’s the possibility that there could be tombs below this place. It’s possible that I’m jumping to conclusions, with the design of this place being what it is.”
“You mean because it’s stone and not metal?”
“Indeed. I’d need to conduct a proper scan of this place, either with the TARDIS, or ideally, this control panel, but I’d need both you and Tom for that. I wouldn’t want this panel to automatically commence a reactivation sequence.”
Jess shuddered at the thought. “Well, hadn’t we better find Tom then?” She asked. “Do you think that town out there is the best place to start looking?”
“It’s a start, certainly.” The Doctor said, heading for the door. “He’d need food, water and shelter for the week.”
Jess followed the Doctor from the room into the daylight of the outside world. She paused just outside the doors as something caught her eye on the ground. Stooping, she picked the item up.
“Doctor.” She said, showing him the object. “It’s Toms watch, isnt it?”
“Indeed.” The Doctor said, taking it from her and examining it.
“What’s happened to the face?” Jess asked.
The Doctor turned the watch over and looked at the face. The numbers and hands had warped into an illegible mess and the glass face had completely melted away. “Hmm.” He mused. “I’ve not seen anything like this for quite a long number of years. It’s the vortex again. Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be fine.” The Doctor smiled. “Now, that settlement is about a mile away by my reconing, so, I think we’d best get moving.”
“Are they a friendly lot, the people on this, whats it called?”
“Telris?” The Doctor responded. “I don’t know, to be honest. I’ve never been here before. This part of the galaxy, yes. But this planet, no. It’s quite a quiet spot, so I recall. Away from major shipping and trade routs, away from the major space powers. Probably why the Cybermen chose it.”
“Oh.” Jess said, simply trotting after the Doctor as he strode purpousfully towards the settlement. Every so often the Time Lord would stop and examine something on the ground or stare, squinting at the settlement then glancing at the sun before setting off again. “Somethings wrong, isn’t it?” Jess finally asked as the two of them reached the outskirts of the settlement.
“I’m not sure.” The Doctor replied. “There’s something, something in the air. Can’t you feel it?”
“Erm, no.” Jess said slowly, looking about her.
“There’s something. Something familiar. I’ve felt this before. A prickling on the skin.” The Doctor said, idly scratching the back of his hand.
“No, nothing like that.” Jess said, looking down at her hands. “It’s not because of the Cybermen is it? Or because something happened to Tom?”
“No. I’ve told you, he’ll be fine. Worst case scenario is that he would have regenerated, but that didn’t happen.”
“How do you know?”
“I can feel it, in here.” The Doctor tapped the side of his head. “Time Lords have some telepathic ability, and Tom is younger and has a stronger telepathic ability, but I can feel it in here. He’s on the planet somewhere.”
Jess smiled to herself, feeling a little more at ease, but still tried to conceal her concern for Tom, not sure whether the Doctor was sugarcoating the truth slightly for her benefit. “But there is something bothering you, isn’t there?” She asked.
“Only slightly. Im just trying to place the period after the Cyber war and who’s active in this part of the galaxy now. Just a slight niggle.”
“But I thought you said this part of the galaxy is quiet.” Jess said.
“Oh, it is, but it always pays to know your neighbours.” The Doctor responded.
“Everybody needs good neighbours.” Jess hummed.
“Indeed.” The Doctor said. “There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Listen.”
Jess held her breath and listened. “I can’t hear anything.” She said.
“Hmm.” The Doctor confirmed. “No background noise. No birdsong, no machinery, not even the distant sound of voices.” He suddenly stopped in the middle of the street and threw his arms open. “Hello?” He bellowed, taking Jess by surprise.
“What are you doing?”
“There should be some sound.” The Doctor said. “Someone talking. So hopefully, someone will come to investigate the two strangers being loud.” He smiled at her, setting off again down the street.
Jess glanced down a side street and paused. “Doctor, there’s something down there.” She said pointing. A grey shape lay in the middle of the street.
The Doctor turned back and stood beside her, looking down at the huddled mass.
“What is it?” Jess asked.
“I think,” The Doctor started, before setting off towards the heap.
Jess started to follow the Doctor before pausing. She was sure that she heard something, when moments before there had been no noise at all. She was sure that there was a low whine in the air. Jess suddenly heard a scampering noise, as if someone had just sprinted a short distance.
“Doctor, did you-?” She started, looking about her.
“Hmm, quite.” The Doctor said, crouching down beside the grey huddle and gently reaching out.
Jess looked round again as she heard another shuffling sound, apparently coming from behind her. She retraced her steps and rounded the corner of the street. The whining in the air was deffinately getting louder, when all of a sudden it stopped. Jess was about to turn back and shout to the Doctor, when she caught a glimpse of some movement out of the corner of her eye. Spinning to look, she saw nothing there, when all of a sudden she felt a strong hand clamp over her mouth and another round her waist and found herself being dragged backwards towards one of the buildings. A wooden shutter flipped down between her and the street and a frantic voice whispered in her ear;
“If you want to stay alive, keep very quiet.”
Jess felt panicked, but the shadows she saw move past while looking through a small gap in the shutter froze her blood and chilled her to the bones. She was shocked further when the hands let her go and she turned to face her captor.

I’m so sorry. Why have you been left here, in such a state?” The Doctor said softly to the grey robed body. He felt a shadow move over him and knew someone was behind him. “It’s a body.” He said sadly. “And judging from the state of him, I’d say he’s been here about a week. Something terrible has happened here, Jess.” He added getting to his feet. “This Thal has been killed and just left where he fell…” The Doctor stopped dead upon turning to face the three figures stood behind him. “Yes, I should have guessed it was you.” He nodded grimly.
“You are my prisoner. You shall obey or be exterminated.” The lead Dalek grated.

[Fitz Kreiner]

“You are my prisoner. You shall obey or be exterminated.” The lead Dalek grated, before stopping and observing the Doctor. “You do not conform. You are not Thal. You will identify.”
“Where’s Jess, what have you done with her?” The Doctor asked, ignoring the order.
The lead Dalek moved forward and extended its manitpulator arm towards the Doctors chest, gently pushing him backwards. “Answer! Identify!” The Creature screached.
“I’m surprised in you.” The Doctor said, pulling himself up to his full height. “I’m the Doctor.”
The Dalek moved back slightly, observing the Time Lord. “You are the Doctor. You are the enemy of the Daleks!”
“That’s right.” The Doctor smiled, before his face became serious again. “Now, where’s Jess, what have you done with her?”
The lead Daleks dome swivelled to the Daleks on its right. “The Doctors compainion is still at liberty. She must be found.”
“I obey.” The Dalek replied before tirning round and disappearing the way it had arrived.
“I take it that means that you haven’t seen her then.” The Doctor smiled.
“Silence!” The Dalek almost screamed. “You shall accompany us, Doctor. The Red Dalek will wish to interrogate you. You will follow.” The Dalek said, moving off.
“Excellent.” The Doctor said, smiling and clapping his hands together. “are you going to radio ahead and get the kettle on?” He asked, glancing at the Dalek behind him.
“Silence.” It said nudging him forwards.


Jess tried not to panic at seeing the three Dalek shadows move past and then realised that her captor had just saved her life. She turned to face her saivior. They were wearing a grey cloak and hood., Jess could only make out the persons nose and a beard. She caught a glimpse of two bright eyes as the figure reached up and pulled back their hood and smiled. It took Jess a couple of seconds to recognise the face through the beard and the hair.
“Tom?” She gasped.
“The one and only.” The young Time Lord grinned. He looked tired and dirty and had small scratches down the side of his face. It also looked like he’d tried to neaten his beard and hair with scissors. His hair now fell to just below his shoulders, making him look darker. His vibrant blue eyes still shone through, full of life and enthusiasm.
“How long has it been?” He almost cried, grabbing hold of Jess and hugging her.
“Erm, about an hour and a half.” Jess finally managed.
“That short? Felt like I was in the vortex for years,. Mind you, I’ve been stuck on this planet for about a week or so.” Tom said, repeatedly glancing over Jess’ shoulder.
“What is it?” She asked, about to turn, when Tom suddenly grabber her hand and dragged her running back into the street. “Are you crazy?” She shouted.
“We can’t stay here.” He replied.
Jess noticed another grey robed figure further down the street beconing them furiously.
“There are more of them coming.” Tifa said, rushing Jess and Tom past her into another building. Following the two travellers in, Tifa looked Jess up and down. “Who is this?” She asked.
“This is one of the people I told you about.” Tom grinned.
“This is the Doctor?” Tifa asked, baffled.
“No, no. This is Jess.” Tom replied, smiling at his companion.
“What is going on here?” Jess asked. “What are the Daleks doing here?”
Tom suddenly hushed the small group quiet, and flinging his arms round them, pulled the two women to the floor, underneith a small window, sheltering them.
“What-?” Tifa began before being hushed silent by Tom.
The shadow of a Dalek appeared in the square of light that the window cast onto the far wall. Jess stared at it in terror, hoping that the creature wouldn’t spot or hear them. Jess became aware that she was holding her breath, as the creature paused outside the window. She was about to breath out again when she heard it speak.
“The Doctor has a companion. She must be found immediately.”
“No other fugitive has been sighted in this location.” A second Dalek replied.
“Seizmic detector indicates that there have been beings in the area. Local disturbance negates a deffinate location.” A third Dalek said.
Jesus, there were three of them outside, Jess though. How were they going to get away from them.
“Search the area. She must not fall into the hands of the rebels. She must become our prisoner if the Doctor is to cooperate.” The first Dalek.
“We obey.” The two other Daleks replied in unison.
Jess saw the shadow of the Dalek move off and breathed out a sigh of relief, only to be hushed again by Tom. Minutes passed before Tom cautiously got to his feet and peeked out the small window.
“It’s ok, they’ve gone.” He said looking down at the two women.
Jess got to her feet and joined Tom in looking through the small window. “What are they doing here?” She asked again.
“Funny, I asked the same thing when I got here.” Tom replied.
“They are slaughtering us. Killing my people.”
Jess turned to face Tifa, looking at her properly for the first time, as she pulled her hood back. The girl was beautiful. Bright blue eyes, golden blonde hair and perfect facial features. “I…I’m sorry.” Jess stammered, not too sure what to say.
“Well, I wouldn’t say slaughtering, mostly harsh slavery from what we’ve gathered.” Tom chipped in, stepping forward and placing his cloak over Jess’ shoulders.
“Who is this, exactly?” Tifa said, stepping forward and looking Jess up and down.
“Oh, yeah.” Tom said, looking at Jess then back at Tifa. “Tifa, this is Jess. Jess, Tifa.” The young Time Lord said, gesturing to the two women. “She travels with the Doctor too. Oh, that reminds me, where is he?”
Jess realised that Tom was suddenly talking to her. “Erm, he was down that street near where you found me.” Jess said.
“The way the Dalek came from?” Tom asked, before continuing before Jess could answer. “That would explain how it knew that he was here, and you. They’ve got him.”
“The Doctor?” Tifa asked.
“I’m guessing, and you know what that means.” Tom replied.
“What?” Jess chipped in.
“Both he, and we, are in serious trouble.” Tom said flatly.

[Fitz Kreiner]

The Doctor was herded through the streets of the settlement, a Dalek infront of him and another behind. He had spotted several other patrols of three Daleks each, moving thought the settlement in the opposite direction to the way he was being taken. He assumed that they were going to join the search for Jess.
“So what happened to the rest of the Thals on the planet?” The Doctor finally asked the Dalek partol. “I’ve only seen the one body, and I’m assuming he wasn’t the only Thal on the planet.”
“That does not concern you.” The lead Dalek said.
“Oh, I think it does. Especially as I’m here now, I think it does concern me. How long have you been here?” The Doctor replied.
“Repeat: That is none of your concern.” The reply came again.
The Doctor opened his mouth to speak again, but closed it without saying anything. He didn’t want to let anything slip about Tom, especially if he had slipped the Daleks and they didn’t know he was there. Yet, at the same time, he was aching to find out whether the Daleks had caught him.
“They all Thals on this planet, then, or is it a bit of a biological hotpotch? You certainly noticed that I wasn’t Thal.”
“Silent!” The Dalek behind the Doctor ordered.
Glancing over his shoulder at the squat creature, the Doctor resigned to keep the questioning untill he got to the Red Dalek, it would undoubtably have more answers than the ordinary Daleks that escorted him. Sighing, the Doctor slipped his hands into his pockets, only to feel the Dalek behind him nudge him in the back with its manipulator arm.
“You will keep your hands in view at all times.” The creature said.
The Doctor sighed again and removed his hands from his pockets before starting to whistle Colonel Bogey. He was being taken through the settlement, heading to the opposite side to the structure that the Cybermen had made into a base. That, at least, he summarised, was of an advantage, at least the Daleks weren’t messing with the dormant controls. The Doctor had passed through the central square of the settlement, a large, open communal area which contained large ornate fountains and market stalls. There were a couple more bodies lying in the central square, the Doctor was shocked and saddened to see that one was a small child.
The Doctor opened his mouth in rage, but realised that releasing a tirade of anger at the Dalek patrol would get him nowhere. Fuming, the Doctor allowed himself to to be escorted out of the central square and back out of the settlement to the Daleks base of operations. Upon leaving the settlement, the Doctor saw where he was being taken. A Dalek battlecruiser had landed next to a large crater and had started to be built into the side of the embankment as a headquarters for the Daleks oporation. It appeared as thought the ship had been built around and tunnels had lead into the side of the ridge of the crater. The Doctor assumed that it had been constructed by slave labour, as several Daleks were about watching groups of Thals who were formed into work parties. Marched past some of the outlying parties, the Doctor wasn’t too sure where to look, but he was horrified at what he saw; Thal men, women and children forced to work, but for what he wasn’t sure. As he entered the Dalek ship the Doctor was determined; He would find out what the Daleks were up to, and would put a stop to whatever it was and free these people.

“Where will they have taken the Doctor?” Jess asked.
“Their ship, no doubt.” Tom replied.
“Well then, we’ve got to rescue him.”
“The only time you go into that ship is when you are a prisoner of the Daleks, and that is not something that you want. They will either kill you or put you to work in one of their slave parties, like they have to my people.” Tifa said, glaring at Jess.
“We will get the Doctor out of there, somehow. And find out exactly what they’re doing here. Now, if im right, the Doctor will already be onto that for us, we just need to do what we can to help him, whatever that may be.” Tom said. “But no Doctor and no weapons make that a little tricky at the moment.” He added.
“Tom, we should go, and bring your friend. The Daleks will be searching this area thoroughly for her. We have to get back to the others.” Tifa said, turning and making for the door.
“Not that way.” Tom said, taking his cloak off and putting it over Jess’ shoulders. “We go through the roof tops for a bit.”
Jess looked round at Tom. He was still wearing his unifrom, but it looked duller and dirtier. There were some small tears in the shirt and he had lost one of the buttons on the right sleeve cuff, letting it flap about his arm.
“Come on.” The young Time Lord urged, beconning the two women.
Jess and Tifa followed Tom up to the second floor of the building and then into the roof space. Not quite knowing why, Jess pulled the cloak round her tighter and followed Tom and the strange girl called Tifa. Jess glanced over at her; she was really beautiful, yet there was something about her that she wasn’t too sure of. She reminded Jess of the ideal Aryan steriotype, athletic build, blonde hair and blue eyes and wondered whether Tom was thinking straight with her there. The thought that then followed was; was she jealous of this alien? Dismissing the thoughts, Jess followed as Tom dropped down into another building and made his way across to the door.
“We need to get down there.” He said, pointing down a small street. “But, we’ve company just down the street. Three of them, we’ll never make it.”
“We cannot return yet. What about the food?” Tifa said.
“We’re gonna have to completely leave this area totally.” Tom replied. “The Daleks will level this area now. They’re already looking for us and now they’ve got Jess on their hitlist.”
“Sorry.” Jess said as Tifa shot her a glance.
“It’s not your fault.” Tom said. “Our best bet now, is to head to the last places the Daleks would think of looking for us; right under their noses.
“What do you mean?” Tifa asked.
“I mean we head to the other side of town and set up camp near the Dalek ship.” Tom replied.

[Fitz Kreiner]

“Near the Daleks? Are you mad?” Tifa almost yelled.
“Think about it.” Tom said spinning to face her. “Jess was last seen in this area, we’ve been active in this area and the Doctor was caught here. This is where they’ll be looking.”
“There is somewhere else.”
Tom and Tifa turned to face Jess, who had a knowing smile on her face. “Somewhere a lot safer than anywhere else in this town; the TARDIS.”
“The TARDIS? Where is it?” Tom asked.
“In the Cybermens base.” Jess replied.
“Of course-” Tom Stopped. “But the Doctor has the key.”
Jess smiled again and took the silver chain that was round her neck, pulling it up so the pendant came into view from underneith her tee-shirt. “The Doctor gave it to me after we escaped the Master. I assume it’s a spare, he’s got another.” She said holding the key up and smiled again.
Tifa looked on at the conversation, bemused. “The TARDIS?” She asked.
“The Doctors craft.” Tom confirmed, turning back to Tifa. “We need to get the others there, but we cant all risk going, there are too many of us.”
“I shall go.” Tifa said. “Your friend doesnot know the planet but knows how to get to and into the TARDIS.” Tifa stopped and looked at Jess. “Besides, I feel you two may want to spend some time together.”
Jess smiled and looked over at Tom, who was stoney faced looking at Tifa. “Get them to the structure soon, and take care.” He said taking one of her hands in his. “Just wait a moment, we’ll create a distraction.” Tom turned and crept back the way they had just come.
“Good luck.” Jess smiled at Tifa.
“You too.” Tifa said, repeating to Jess the same handshake that Tom did to her.

Jess silently followed Tom back up into the roof spaces to find him crouched near an opening in the roof. As Jess watched, Tom rolled a piece of masonary down the roof, before darting to the other side and peered out of another hole. Joining him, Jess saw a faint grey figure run down a street.
“Don’t ask me how, but that’s the cloaks for you.” Tom muttered.
“Just who are these people?” Jess asked. “What is going on here?”
“They’re Thals. They used to share the planet Skaro with the Daleks. To cut a very long story short, there was a war, well, lots of wars, and the Thals fled Skaro.”
“Can’t say I blame them.” Jess muttered.
“They eventually settled here.” Tom continued. “A week ago, the Daleks arrived, just about the same time as me. I was lucky, if you can call it that, to meet Tifa and her friends. What the Daleks are doing here, I don’t know.”
“Tifa said they were killing everyone.” Jess said.
“Well, yes and no.” Tom replied. “They killed a few, no more than twelve, when they arrived. The rest they seem to be working to death at the crater on the other side of the settlement. Quite what they’re doing, I don’t know. I’ve been trying to figure it out, but I don’t know them as well as the Doctor does.”
Tom turned and looked at Jess. She could see a sadness in his eyes and the way he held himself.
“I take it it’s not been an easy week.” Jess said sympathetically.
“Constantly on the run. Tifa, Becas and Faron. They’re the only Thal survivors free. Dorof, Kalin and Callius were killed.”
The names meant nothing to Jess, but it was clear that Tom had spent time with and knew these people.
“I’m sorry. I can’t pretend to know or understand.” Jess said, putting a comforting hand on Toms arm.
“It’s ok.” The young Time Lord smiled back. “It’s not exactly pleasant but I never really knew them. You just have to detatch and push yourself on.”
Jess stared at Tom. He sounded cold and detatched, as if he didn’t care for those who died. “When you were a prisoner of the Cybermen, did they actually remove your emotions?”
Tom spun round and looked at Jess. She could see tears in his eyes.
“I’m sorry.” She stammered. “I didn’t mean it.”
“It’s ok.” Tom put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes before pulling her towards himself and embracing her in a hug. “I understand we all say things we don’t mean in times like this. I didn’t mean it to sound so cold. I didn’t really know them. They died the first day I was here. It would be different now.”
Jess was about to reply when she heard a whining noise outside.
“Whats that?”
Daleks. Don’t move.” Tom whispered.
As Jess watched, a Dalek on a flying disc glided past the window. Thankfully not looking in.
“They can fly?” She whispered back.
“Unfortunately. They do have anti-gravs but that’s for rough terrain. With the trans-solar discs, they’re airborne.” Tom replied.
Jess swore. “What can we do then?”
“Get to the TARDIS quickley and carefully.”

Tifa staggered through the small opening, almost collapsing out of breath. The two figures inside the small room rushed to her aid.
“What happened? Where is Tom?” Becas asked.
“The Doctor is here. On this planet. Now!” Tifa replied.
“The Doctor? He is here?” Faron asked.
“Yes, and another of his travelling friends. The Daleks have caught the Doctor, we’re going to try and save him.”
“From the Daleks? Are you mad? We do not stand a chance!” Becas wailed.
“We have Tom and his friend, and they have access to the TARDIS, the Doctors craft.” Tifa explained. “With that, and the Doctor, we can get our planet back and beat the Daleks.”
Faron just looked at Tifa and raised an eyebrow sceptically.
“You know the legends of the Doctor as well as I do.” Tifa said.
“Yes, legends.” Faron replied. “That is all they are; legends. This Tom has helped us, I agree, but he cannot know the Doctor, you know that.”
“He is right.” Becas put a hand on Tifas shoulder. “Even if the Doctor really existed, he canot still be alive, not now. He would be thousands of years old.”
“Then how did he know the legends so well?”
“Does he? He has just talked about the Doctor and the TARDIS.” Taron retorted.
“Come with me and you will see for yourself.” Tifa almost begged. “How do you explain his friend if the Doctor is just a legend?”
There had been quite a bit of tension between Tom and Faron since the Time Lord had arrived and effectively taken charge of the group. There had been some blazing rows between the two when Dorlof and Callius were killed on a mission Faron had sent them on, and Kalin killed shortly after, leading to the discovery of their hide out. After that, the survivors of the group had followed Toms lead, Faron, somewhat reluctantly.
Faron and Becas looked at each other briefly before nodding.
“Is it far?” Becas asked.
“In the structure from what I gather.” Tifa replied.
“The Structure?” Faron gasped. “But no-one has ever got in there.”
“They got out. There must be a way.” Tifa retorted. “Why can you not trust Tom as I do?”
Faron glared at Tifa for a couple of seconds before he was nudged by Becas.
“Come on.” She urged, putting her grey cloak on.

The Afternoon was starting to cloud over, the light dimming under the oncomming storm. Out of a ruined building in the shadow of a larger, still intact building beside it, three cloaked figures emerged and cautiously made their way the smaller of the streets.

Tom and Jess were crouched in the shadows near the edge of the settlement, as a Dalek patrol glided by, not noticing the two travellers.
“The edge of the settlement is just round the corner. Or at least it should be.” Tom whispered. “But it’s open ground, we’ll have to sprint.”
Jess nodded slowly, got to her feet and crept round the corner. Tom was getting to his feet when he heard Jess swear again and run back round the corner.
“What is it?” He asked.
Jess pointed round the corner. Tom peered round as Jess spoke;
“The Daleks; they’ve got the TARDIS.”

[Fitz Kreiner]

Tom looked. A patrol of seven Daleks were escorting the TARDIS across the ground on an anti-grav sled. Tom ducked back into the shadows with Jess and swore himself
“Now what?” Jess asked.
“No weapons, no Doctor, no TARDIS.” Tom paused, thinking. “We’re buggered.”
“So, what, we surrender ourselves?” She asked.
“No, not at all.” Tom replied. “Proceed with the original plan for the time being.”
“Which was?”
“I don’t know. To be honest, I’m making this up as I go along, kind of like the Doctor.”
Jess smiled. “Hoping it works out the same way?”
“Something like that.” The Time Lord nodded.
“Is it safe sat here with all these Daleks?”
“Possibly not, but we’re going to have to wait for the others before we head off.” Tom said, looking thoughtful.
A slight breeze was no whipping down the small street where they were hiding, crouched in the shadows. Jess shivered slightly, the wind had a cold bite to it and she drew the cloak round her tighter. She glanced over at Tom, the wind was blowing his hair over his face, and the Time Lord seemed to be trying to tuck it behind his ears, looking slightly annoyed.
“Here,” She said after a few seconds, holding out a black band to him she had taken off her wrist.
Tom took it and looked at it and then at her, a puzzled look on his face.
“It’s for your hair.” Jess explained.
The Time Lords expression didn’t change.
“Here, let me.” She smiled, reaching forward and running her fingers throught the Time Lords hair, pulling it back over his head and tying it into a pony tail. “There.” She smiled looking at Tom. She could now see his face properly; he had a lot more scratches that she had first thought and looked a lot more weary. “You could do with a shower and good sleep!” She said.
“Chance would be a fine thing!” Tom replied. “Precious chance of such luxuries at the moment.”
Jess smiled sympathetically, and put a supportive hand on Toms shoulder. The Time Lord suddenly moved forward, pushing her back. Jess fell backwards through a small opening, landing on her back, with Tom following her through and landing on top of her. “What-?” She started.
“The Daleks with the TARDIS.” Tom whispered.
Jess suddenly realised that she’d forgotten about the. As she looked up, she saw the tops of the domes of several Daleks and the top of the TARDIS glide by.
“Taking it to their ship, I’m guessing.” Tom said.
Jess nodded. “What about the others?”
Tom looked at her blankly.

The Doctor was stood in the Command Centre in an energy field. His hands were extended out from his sides and placed on two orbs which glowed with a greenish blue light. Two Daleks stood facing him. The Doctors face was frozen into a wince of discomfort from the energy field surrounding him. Lifting his arm to his face, one of the Daleks moved forward.
“You will not remove your hand from the sensor.” The Creature shouted.
Obediantly, the Doctor returned his hand to the glowing orb. The energy within the orb gave him a tingling feeling when he put his hand on it. The engergy field was making the Doctor feel slightly dizzy and looking through the fields haze he could see another Dalek enter the chamber. The Dalek glided to stand directly before him, the two Dalek guards taking up positions flanking and slightly behind the new arrival.
“You are the Doctor.” The Dalek stated.
“Yes.” The Doctor replied “You must be the Red Dalek, you’ll forgive me if I don’t shake you by the plunger.”
“Silence. You are a prisoner of the Dalek Empire. You are not in the position to be facetious.”
The Doctor opened his mouth to respond but snapped it shut again.
“Where is your companion?” The Dalek asked.
The Doctor stared silently out of the energy field at the squat creature stood before him.
“I repeat, where is your companion?” The Dalek stared at the silent Time Lord for a few seconds before screaming “You will answer!”
“I’m sorry, I thought you were wanting me to be silent a moment ago.” The Doctor smiled. “Anyway, why do you want to know where my companion is?” The Doctor held his breath, wondering what the response was going to be. He still wasn’t sure whether the Daleks knew anything about or had captured Tom, he certainly hadn’t been among the slave parties the Doctor had seen.
“It is for her own protection. There are dangerous… elements on this planet. She will be at risk.” The Dalek replied.
“Hmm, that’s very considerate of you.” The Doctor replied suspiciously. “I think she’s probably safer off outside.”
“Repeat; there are dangerous… elements. It is for her own safety.”
“And because you’re all sweetness and light.” The Doctor mocked “I think you’ll find that she will agree with me, there are dangerous elements in here too.” The Doctor looked at the Daleks stood before him. He was sure there was something they werent saying, especiallt with the way the Red Dalek paused before saying ‘elements’.
“We know you are aware of the Cyber base on this planet. Your TARDIS was discovered there.” The Dalek replied.
“Ah, so you know about it to? Hm, I did wonder. But if you want to use its power, wouldn’t it have made more sense to park your spaceship next door, theres a lovely big clear area, good parking spot. Surely you’re not that bad a parker are you?” The Doctor replied.
“The Bases presence was unanticipated. It is unimportant. We do not need any power from the Cybermen, we are the superior species.”
“I wouldn’t have thought so from last time, they were walking all over you in the war. But then, that’s not hard really is it, anyone could walk all over you as you trudle along behind!” The Doctor scoffed.
“Silence!” The Dalek shouted again. “I have warned you about your flippancy to the Dalek Empire. You are our prisoner. The presence of you companion will ensure your cooperation. It may also allow the resistance group to surrender themsleves to us.”
“Ok, a couple of questions,” The Doctor said. “One; What do you want my cooperation for? And two; Why would you having Jess make the resistance group surrender themselves?”
“The Black Dalek will be arriving soon. You will assist with the Regenesis Experiment, then you will be taken back to Skaro where you will be taken before the supreme council and the Emperor.” The Dalek replied.
“Oh I say, how exciting!” The Doctor sadf with mock enthusiasm. “What then?”
“You shall impart all your knowledge, allowing us to destroy the Time Lords and then you will be exterminated.”

[Fitz Kreiner]

The Dalek paused. “The resistnace group is believed to be lead by a non-terrestial, a non Thal. They are your group. They will surrender themselves for you.”
“My group?” The Doctor stammered. “I don’t think so, I’ve only just got here.”
“You deny that you are leading the oppostion to our presence here?” The Dalek asked.
“Oh yes. Well, yes to leading it, but I soon intend to join them.” The Doctor glared at the Dalek as something clicked in his brain. “A non-Thal is leading them? Who-?” He paused before he could finish the sentence, a sudden thought springing into his head. “Tom.” He whispered.
“Who is this ‘Tom’?” The Dalek asked.
“Erm, someone I used to travel with.” The Doctor replied hurriedly trying to cover his faux pas.
“Slight reading on detector.” The Dalek on the left reported, its dome turned to look at a screen.
“Answer truthfully.” The Red Dalek said to the Doctor. “How many companions did you arrive with?”
“On this planet? Just Jess.” The Doctor replied.
“Truthful response.” The Dalek replied.
“Who is leading the resistance group?” The Red Dalek asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Is your companion with the resistance?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where are the resistance?”
“I don’t know.” The Doctor repeated. “Look, do you mind if I venture an opinion? You’re not getting very far with this, well, I can hardly call it an interrogation. Why don’t you try another line of questioning?”
“Silence. The iterregation has yet to begin.” The Red Dalek snapped before turning to the Dalek on its right. “Activate.”
The Daleks manipulator arm extended to a panel and manipulated some controls. The Doctor convulsed and cried out in pain as more power surged through the energy field.

Jess stifled a yawn. She ached being sat in the little cellar Tom had bundled them into to avoid the Daleks. Tom was sat next to her staring at his feet, brooding.
“Well?” Jess finally asked, after what seemed like hours.
“You’re wearing odd shoes.” He replied pointing at her feet.
Jess looked down at the one red and one green sneakers she had picked out of the TARDIS wardrobe, and then up at Tom. “It took you all that time to figure that out?” She asked, a cheeky smile on her face.
“Hello?” The two travellers turned to look at the opening above them at the voice. Tom cautiously got to his feet and peered through the hole. Three pairs of legs were stood near the opening, the cloaked figures facing the other way.
“Tifa, down here!” Tom whispered harshly.
The three Thals spun round.
“What are you doing down there?” Faron asked.
“Daleks, now enough of the questions and get down here!” Tom hissed.
Faron ushered Becas and Tifa to the opening and the two women clambered down into the cellar, Faron following shortly after. Looking around, Faron and Becas fixed their eyes on Jess, their mouths agape.
“What!” Jess said, feeling suddenly very self concious as the two Thals stared at her, looking her up and down.
“She is real.” Faron gasped. “Another off-worlder.”
“You travel with the Doctor?” Becas asked Jess.
“Erm, yes.” Jess said cautiously, eyeing the two Thals with suspicious eyes.
“I told you.” Tifa said, somewhat smugly, folding her arms.
“Can we just go without the petty squabling for just five minutes, please?” Tom said loudly, causing everyone to turn to look at him. “Look, the Daleks have stolen the TARDIS. I don’t know how they knew where it was or why they’ve taken it come to that. But still, the fact remains that our last safe resort has gone. I don’t trust the Cyber base as a refuge, so I think we’re going to have to take matters into our own hands.”
“What is this ‘Cyber base’?” Faron asked.
“The structure.” Tom answered quickly. “So, the only thing we can do is to get out of this area. The Daleks may have gone for now, but who knows when they’ll be back?”
“Not just yet.” Tifa said.
“Yes, there were many Daleks about, some may have followed us here.” Becas said.
Jess sighed loudly. “And I thought we were about to get out of this place.” She said.
Tom smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. “Give it time. Just a few more minutes and-” The rest of his sentence was cut off by a loud roaring noise from overhead.
“What is that?” Becas shouted above the roar.
Tom darted to the opening and peered out. A space craft was flying low over the settlement, the underside of the craft barely six feet above the tops of the tallest buildings. “Some sort of space ship.” He said. “I think it was a Dalek shuttle. Certainly different to the Dalek ships I’ve seen before.”
“Why are they bringing more Daleks here?” Faron asked “They have nearly killed us all. We are the only ones left.”
“The only ones still at liberty.” Tom corrected him, turning round and pointing his finger. “A few more minutes to rest up and get ready and then we’ll have to go and change that, won’t we?”

The energy field snapped off and the Doctor dropped to his knees, his face soaked with sweat and his hair clinging to his forehead. His hands fell before him, palms facing upwards. His skin was prickling, like he was being stabbed all over with tiny needles.
“The interrogation is over for now.” The Red Dalek said.
“Thank you so much.” The Doctor muttered under his breath.
“The prisoner will stand.” The Dalek to the left said, moving forwards. “Stand!”
Slowly and shakily, the Doctor got to his feet. “Have you got that cup of tea ready yet?”
“Silence.” The Red Dalek cut in. “You are to be held in a cell untill the Black Dalek arrives.”
The roar of an approaching space craft coming in to land rumbled in the background. “Sounds like he’s here.” The Doctor grinned. “When do I meet him?”
“Repeat; you will be taken to a cell. You will be brought before the Black Dalek when the time is right.”
Sighing, the Doctor raised his hands and allowed himself to be lead from the room. After the Time Lords departure, the Red Dalek turned to another panel and observed the results of the interrogation as the Black Dalek entered.
“You have the Doctor prisoner.” It grated coming to a halt in the centre of the command chamber.
“Affirmative.” The Red Dalek replied turning to face its commander.
“The Supreme Council want his memory prints and then after he has surrendered them to us, he will be used in the Regenesis Experiment as the ultimate test.”

[Fitz Kreiner]

“The Supreme Council want his memory prints and then after he has surrendered them to us, he will be used in the Regenesis Experiment as the ultimate test.”

“Confirmed.”

“What was learned from his interrogation?”

The Red Dalek activated a control and a holographic screen sprang to life in the centre of the command chamber. “The Doctor arrived approximately 120 rels ago with one female companion. She is believed to be with the resistance. From information leaked by the Doctor we have built the supposition that another of the Doctors companions, a male, is leading the resistnace.”

“Explain? The resistance has been operational for a solar week, the Doctor has only been here for 120 rels.”

“There is no explanation yet.” The Red Dalek replied. “Patrols have been doubled in the area where the Doctor was apprehended and where the resistance were last reported active. They have orders that any Thal is to be exterminated and the Doctors companions are to be brough in for interrogation alive.”

“Countered. The Doctor will be more likely to co-operate when we hold more hostages.”

“I obey.”

“The Doctors companions must be located and brought before me.”

“I obey.” The Red Dalek turned to the control console again, issuing the new directives to the patrols.

“I want to see the progress of the experiment so far. You will take round the production lines and testing area.”

“I obey.” The Red Dalek replied, leading the Black Dalek to the depths of the now in-grounded ship.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“The wall must have collapsed on this hatch. I cannot move it.” Faron gasped, pusing up on the hatch to the floor above with all his might.

“There’s still this way.” Jess said, indicating the small window opening. “If someone can give me a boost up?” She asked looking around the small group in the cellar.

“Jess, be careful.” Tom warned from the hatch, where he’d moved to to assist Faron.

Jess turned to face the young Time Lord. “Trust me!” She winked. “I was a guide!”

“How do you mean ‘a boost’?” Becas asked, looking at Jess.

“Help me up so I can get through.” She explained, reaching up to take hold of the edge of the opening.

“Jess, no.” Tom said, moving towards her. “It’s pretty dangerous out there. I think someone like Faron or myself should go first to make sure that its safe.”

“Why? Because I’m a girl?” Jess said, looking daggers at Tom. “Don’t give me any of that sexist bullsh*t, I’m going.”

“No, not at all.” Tom protested. “You’ve not been here an hour and half yet, we’ve been hiding from the Daleks for a week or so, we know what to look out for.”

“Becas and Tifa have been here the same time, why not one of them? Why does it have to be you or Faron?”

“Because we are trying to keep us all safe and alive. As Tom said, we have been hiding from the Daleks for a week. We know what to do.” Faron said, joining in. “What is ‘sexism’?”

Tom waved a hand at him to make him stop talking. “Now isn’t the time.” He said. “Jess, I don’t pretend to know anything about the Daleks, but like we’ve said, we’ve been dodging them for the past week, we know the settlement and we know their patrol routines. It’d be a lot safer for one of us to go first. I know how it might seem.”

“You’ve been hiding. Why haven’t you been fighting them? Finding out what they’re doing here? It’s time to be assertive, yeah?” Jess asked Tom.

“Yeah, and if the Doctor is in that Dalek ship, we need to get him out. That’s why we need to get to be as close to the Dalek ship as possible while they’re over here looking for us.” Tom replied. “At the same time we have to find out what they’re up to, whilst not getting caught or killed in the process.”

“I know, I know what I’m doing. There aren’t any Daleks about. We just need to get to the other side of the street.” Jess pleaded. “I can’t stay down here any more, I’ll go crazy.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Doctor paced back and forth in his cell. It was a small cell. In fact, he wouldn’t have even called it a cell. There was no seat or indeed bunk. If anything, the Doctor would have described it as a store room, six feet long and three wide. The Daleks had searched him before the put him hin here, made him empty his pockets. They’d taken his sonic screwdriver and the TARDIS key from him. This worried him; the Daleks had told him that they had found and captured the TARDIS and now they had the key.

However, judging from what the Daleks had said, Tom was alive and leading a resistance group against the Daleks. Possibly his only hope of rescue at the moment, unless he could slip away when they came to get him.

Another thing that was concerning him was why he was here and not in a proper cell. The Black Dalek was here, he knew that. What he was unsure about was why it wasn’t on the planet overseeing operations. In fact, he didn’t know what the Daleks operations were. ‘The Regenesis Experiment’, the Red Dalek had said. He didn’t know what that meant but he didn’t like the sound of it.

The sound of the door opening made the Doctor spin round. A Dalek was stood in the doorway, a tray attatched to its manitpulator arm.
“I have brought you nourishment and water.” It grated. “You will eat. The Black Dalek will come for you soon.”

“Thank you jeeves.” The Doctor muttered taking the tray from the Dalek. On the tray was a small tin mug with about two mouthfuls of water and a beaten tin bowel and spoon filled with a sickly looking brownish-grey slop. “Well, when in Rome…” the Doctor muttered, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You ok?” Tom shouted up.

“Yes.” Becas replied, wriggling through the opening into the street.

“Be careful.” Tom said.

“It is alright. There is nothing out here. No Daleks at all.” Becas shouted back down to Tom and Faron. Standing up, she pulled her cloak tighter about her and looked about for Jess and Tifa. Spotting them, she made her way down the street.

“Be cautious!” Faron shouted from the opening. Becas looked back and saw his head and shoulders starting to emerge as he followed her out.

A sudden high pitched whining filled the air making Becas pause in terror and look about. Behind her, Faron also froze and ahead of her, Jess and Tifa were furiosly beconing her to run for cover. Becas turned to run but froze again as she saw a Dalek turn the corner into the street. Spinning round, she saw another enter the street at the other end. The whining reached a crescendo and two Daleks on hoverbouts appeared over the rooftops and beared down towards Becas, who was now rooted to the spot in terror as the four Daleks closed in on her. Jess and Tifa looked on in horror from their concealed hiding place. Faron slipped back into the cellar as the Dalek glided past him towards Becas, Tom coming and looking out of the opening, his horror matching that of Jess and Tifas.

“Surrender. Surrender.” He whispered in the vain hope Becas would hear him and the Daleks wouldn’t.

Becas turned in a terrified circle as the four Daleks closed in on her, the two in hoverbouts lowering to the ground.

“Please…” Becas began, her voice trembling.

“Kill her.” The Dalek which was standing a little back from the others ordered.

“No!” Becas screamed at the impassive, squat metal creatures. As they stared back at her, unmoving, before as one firing at the defensless Thal, trappen in the centre of a deadly four way blast. Becas’ body twisted and convulsed in the deadly electro-radioactive flare, before crumpling to a twisted, smoking heap on the ground.

[Fitz Kreiner]

“No!” Shouted Tom and Tifa together from the two sides of the street, causing the Daleks to spin to face them.

“nuts.” Tom spat as a Daleks eyestalk focussed clearly on him. He was vaguely aware of Faron pulling at his arm. Tom felt a vague numbness decend over him as he saw the Daleks gun level at him. He suddenly saw himself back in the TARDIS on EST3, a Dalek hunting Jess and himself in there. Tom snapped out of his haze as Faron grappled him to the floor.

“What are you doing?” He hissed at the Time Lord. “Are you trying to get us killed to?”

Tom wrestled Faron over, fists clenched, before relaxing and slumping against the wall, head in his hands.

“Do not just sit there. The Daleks know where we are. We have to get out of here.” Faron said, pulling Tom to his feet. “We need to get through that hatch.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jess and Tifa stared through the door, mouths agape in shock at seeing Becas shot down by the Dalek patrol. Tifa screamed at the same time as Tom, causing Jess to throw her arms round her and drag her out of sight of the Daleks.

“They’ll be after us now.” Jess wispered, glancing back round the door. Two Daleks were moving towards the opening they’d come from and the other two were heading towards them. As Jess watched, all four Daleks paused, their eyestalks suddenly pointing straight up.

“I obey.” All four Daleks said in unison before carrying on.

“We’ve got to get out of here.” Jess said. “Is there a back way out?”

“The roof spaces. We shall run through there.” Tifa said, making her way to the stairs, taking a look to the door, a tear in her eye.

“You will surrender yourselves to us. We are the masters of this planet now.” The harsh grating tones of a Dalek wafted through the door.

The two women paused at the foot of the stairs and turned to face the door.

“Surrender?” Jess looked at Tifa,confused. “Why surrender when they’ve just killed someone? They didn’t offer her the chance.”

“It is a trick. They are Daleks. They want to lure us outside and then kill us.” Tifa said. “We must run.” She said taking hold of Jess’ hand and pulling her up the stairs.

“What about Tom and your friend?” Jess asked. “What do you think happened to them?”

“They will hopefully have run. They know how to escape the Daleks.” Tifa said before turning and running up the stairs.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Doctor let the spoon drop into the bowel with a clatter, a grimace on his face. He didn’t bother to look up as he heard the door open.

“You know, Dalek cuisine hasn’t improved one iota in all the centuries I’ve known you.” He said still not looking at the door. “Surely it wouldn’t be too much trouble for you to rustle up a nice bacon sandwich and a cup of tea?”

“You are the Doctor.” It was a statement as opposed to a question. “You will stand.” And that last part was most deffinately an order.

The Doctor got to his feet, making a show of brushing down his coat. “Ah, the Black Dalek. It’s quite a good job for you lot that I’m not colourblind, isn’t it? Tell me, have you ever thought of having a yellow or purple Dalek. I’d quite like to see a purple Dalek. Purple is quite a nice colour, don’t you think?”

“You will accompany me.” The Black Dalek said, ignoring the Doctors statements and moving back to reveal an escort party of three more Daleks.

“So, where are we going? Anywhere nice?” The Doctor asked, smiling and stepping out of the cell.

“You will accompany me to the lower levels.” The Black Dalek stated. “You are to assist in the Regenesis Experiment.”

“Yes, your underling, the Red Dalek, said something about that. What is a ‘Regenesis Experiment’ anyway? And what have you got those poor Thals doing? It looks like you’re constructing some sort of training or parade ground out there.”

“You shall learn, Doctor. As we shall learn from you.” The Black Dalek replied.

The Doctor took a quicker step forward so that he was walking alongside the Dalek. “I’m sorry, did I hear you right? A Dalek willing to learn from another being?”

“You will reveal to us the secrets of the Time Lords.”

“That seems to be quite a popular thing at the moment, wanting Time Lord secrets.” The Doctor responded, before looking about conspiratorially. “The Time Lords secrets,” he whispered to the Daleks eyestalk. “Are secret.” The Doctor straightened up. “That is why they are called ‘Secrets’.”

“We shall see, Doctor.” The Black Dalek said, unfazed as it came to a stop before a pair of doors. “You shall now observe the production lines. Remember, we have your TARDIS. You will not interfere.”

The Doctor was about to open his mouth to speak, but closed it at the mention of the TARDIS and nodded silently instead. The doors slid open and the Doctor followed the Black Dalek through. He was walking along a gantry, below him were Daleks working at machines, constructing what looked like parts to more machines. Looking round there were deffinately some armaments being constructed down there. There were no Thal slaves working down here though. Maybe they were all working at the ground in the crater. The Doctor was lead through two more production areas and then steered back to the command centre of the ship.

“Well, that was very impressive. You’re building some kind of machines. Why?” The Doctor said finally. He had seen some things that he deffinately didn’t like the looks of.

“We are building the future.” The Black Dalek said.

“The new future.” The Red Dalek glided forward. “And you will assist us.”

“New future?” The Doctor asked, sceptically.

“The galaxy is weak. The major powers are rebuilding after the Cyber War. They are looking for new methods of defence and construction. Ready to rebuild. We shall supply that.” The Black Dalek said.

“You think the Federation, Sontarans or whoever is going to accept help from you?” The Doctor almost scoffed.

“Not us. Themselves.” The Red Dalek said.

“We have duplicate agents scattered through the Galaxy. They will offer their respective empires the machines we offer.” The Black Dalek explained.

“And what is that exactly?” The Doctor asked.

“What you have witnessed constructing and will aid in the refinement.” The Red Dalek replied.

“The new Dalek race. Reborn.” The Black Dalek said flatly. “Spread throughout the galaxy ready to take over.”

[Fitz Kreiner]

“You’re going to offer out Dalek aid? Do you really think the galaxy will buy that-?” The Doctor paused as what the Black Dalek had said sunk in. “What do you mean, the Dalek race, reborn?” he asked, looking at the creature.

“A Dalek research team investigating the ruins of a recently discovered bunker on the edges of the Skafel mountains found the designs for new type of Dalek machine. They were recovered and taken to a science team and adapted and advanced with Dalek designs.” The Black Dalek replied.

“‘Adapted with Dalek designs’.” The Doctor mused, tapping a long forefinger against his lips, thoughtfully. “Should I take it that this was an old Kaled bunker?”

“Correct.” The Red Dalek said. “The work was believed to have been conducted by a secret Kaled research team. We do not know why it was abandonded.”

“Hmm, possibly Davros believing his own work was better? Was it one of his designs you discovered? He’s not up there is he?” The Doctor pointed up to the sky, looking at the Black Dalek then the Red and then back to the Black.

“Davros is unimportant.” The Black Dalek said flatly. “The improved designs are what you saw being constructed in the bowels of this ship.”

“So, basically, are you telling me that you’ve decided that you arent really the supreme beings in the galaxy and are updating yourselves because you’ve realised just how rediculous you really are?” The Doctor mocked.

“The new Dalek casings are a means to an end. They will be spread throughout the galaxy, infiltrating all levels of all societies. They will be ensuring that the reperations to the galaxy are completed according to Dalek design. And when the time is right, we will rise and take rightful place as the supreme being. This Galaxy will fall to the might of the Dalek empire.”

“Well, thank you. Now I know what you’re planning, all I have to do is escape and stop you.” The Doctor said, smugly pacing back and forth a few steps. “But of course you wont let me. You apparently need I disagreeistance. Not only that, but as you reminded me, you have my TARDIS and have threatend my companions. And you know that I can’t let you hurt them. Where are they?” He added, his face now stoney and the tone of his voice serious, as he turned to face the two Daleks.

Another Dalek moved towards the Black Dalek. “A report has been received from a patrol.” It reported. “One of the Thal resistance has been exterminated. Two, a Thal Male and non-Thal male, believed to be the group leader are currently trapped in the lower floor of one of the settlement dwellings. They have no way out and will surrender to our patrol soon. Another two, a Thal female and non-Thal female are being persued through the settlement. The non-Thal female is believed to be the Doctors companion.”

“There was no need for that death.” The Doctor said. The three Daleks just stood staring at the Time Lord, eventually forcing the Doctor to sigh and slump his shoulders. “What is it you want me to do.” He said quietly, the image of patrols of Daleks moving in on Jess with Tom trapped in a cellar somewhere. He had already tried reaching out to Tom telepathically after feeling some faint telepathic emissions, but it was to no avail.

“You shall fist see the completed Dalek machine.” The Black Dalek said, turning as a door opened on the far side of the command centre. The Doctor turned to look at the machine that glided through and came to a stop before him in the centre of the room.

The Dalek machine was about five and a half feet tall and made from a textured metal, the origin of which he wasn’t sure of. It was a mottled greeney-blue in colour, which almost looked natural, rather than the metal being treated to appear that way. Looking the machine over, the Doctor could see that it was powered by what appeared to be a self-contaned nuclear generator, that, along with inbuilt sheilded power receptors, looked like it fed of solar and background radiation, thus giving the machine an almost inexhaustable supple of energy.

Just over halfway up the machine was a manipulator arm, vaguely similar to that of the original Dalek machine. However, this manipulator arm appeared more flexible and manouverable, and ended in four opposable grapples, instead of the sucker cup. On the opposing side of the machine were what looked like a laser attachment and a welding attachment positioned directly above it. Bending closer to take a more detailed look, he spotted that the laser attachment had a tuning lense inside it.

Towards the top of the machine, were what looked like two compound lense eyes, positioned either side of the central ridge that ran from the top of the machine to the base. Each eye had what looked like a retractoble “lid” that could cover the lense. The positioning of the eyes made it apparently that the machine had three hundred and sixty degree vision. On the central ridge, between the “eyes” there was an ident symbol that was glowing softly and above that, towards the very top of the machine, was a small array of very short metal pins. The Doctor looked closely at them, unable to determine exactly what they were, or what they were for.

“Your admiration is expected.” The Black Dalek said.

“I must admit, you’ve cleverly disguised the weaponry as tools. Although a trained eye and a close inspection will spot them for what they really are.” The Doctor said, looking again at the laser attatchment. “Although, a self renewing nuclear power source running off background and solar radiation is a clever touch.” He added. “Many civilations could benefit from this kind of technology. Would stop them using fossil fuel resources, causing pollution and greenhouse gasses. If only they’d learn, eh?” The Doctor straightened up, gripping the lapels of his coat.

“Dalek technology is superior to all. You will fulfill your role and participate.” The Black Dalek commanded. “You will assist in the full incorporation of the Dalek creature into the machinery.”

“Bio-mechanical engineering isn’t exactly my forté, you know.” The Doctor said, looking at the Dalek maching still. “Although, I’m sure I could give it a go. How exactly do you get into this thing then, tin opener?”

“Your knowledge as a Time Lord will assist in the integration of Dalek biology and technology.”

“What do you mean?” The Doctor asked, suddenly alarmed.

“You will impliment an impirative into the cellular level that allows the Dalek creature to mentally interact with the temporal technology built into the Dalek machines.” The Dalek responded.

[Fitz Kreiner]

“You want the individual machines to be Time Capable?” The Doctor froze and looked at the Black Dalek.

The Dalek moved round to face the Doctor. “You will proceed with your work. You only need to know what is essential to complete that work.”

“I think I should know if each individual Dalek machine is to be time capable.” The Doctor said, walking round the prototype machine before him. “I mean, it could help my integration of the creature to technology quicker.”

“Enough.” The Black Dalek screeched moving forwards, its manipulator arm extended and connecting the the Time Lords chest. “You will now be taken to your laboratory where you will conduct your work. You will be supervised at all times by Daleks. You will obey. You will obey.”

The Red Dalek moved in on the Doctor, taking up the Black Daleks’ chant. “Obey. Obey. Obey.”

The Doctors head dropped, a crestfallen expression on his face, only to look up again when the Black Dalek next spoke.

“Obey and when you have completed your task, you will be reunited with your companions.”

“You said they were still at liberty.” The Doctor replied.

“A temporary condition. Our patrols are closing in. Their lives depend upon your co-operation.”

“Very well.” The Doctor said, indicating the door. “Are you going to show me to my work space?”

The Red Dalek glided forwards, a silver drone Dalek moving in either side of the Doctor as the Black Dalek took up a position behind the Doctor, with another Dalek behind.

“Quite the escort party.” The Doctor smiled at the Black Dalek.
“You are to be observed at all times. You shall install the initial Dalek creature. Your methods are to be observed and then duplicated for mass production.” The Dalek replied.

“Oh, I see. One use and then discard, eh?” The Doctor mocked. “I trust that you will properly test your new Dalek. You know, I do remember a time when you coerced me into helping you before, and if I remember rightly you had a civil war on your hands shortly after. You do know history often finds a way of repeating itself.”

“There will be no mistakes.” The Black Dalek screeched. “You will ensure that. The Experiment will succeed.”

“Oh, I must admit I’m intrigued. Although you don’t have to be a Time Lord to know what the outcome will be.” The Doctor replied, before putting his hands in his pockets and walking along with the escort party into a sizeable laboratory. “So, this is it, hm?” He asked looking about the various pieces of Dalek technology placed about the laboratory. “It may help if I had my sonic screwdriver.” The Doctor turned to face the Black Dalek. “All this is clearly designed for Daleks, by Daleks. And I, am not a Dalek.” The Doctor swept his arm round the room.

One of the silver Daleks had positioned itself at the far end of the room and the other two were sat either side of the main door. The Black Dalek looked about.

“Very well.” It responded. “You are to be observed. The prototype machine will be brought before you along with the Dalek creature. You shall familiarise yourself with the equipment.” The Creature then turned and left the laboratory, followed by the Red Dalek, leaving the Doctor and his three guards.

*


“The Doctor will co-operate. He has no choice.” The Black Dalek said, entering the command deck. “We have his TARDIS and his companions will soon be our prisoners.”

“The Doctor threatened a civil war. This must not occur.” The Red Dalek said, turning towards two Daleks at a command station. “All Dalek Units will respond to any orders given, immediately. There will be no mistakes.”

“We obey.” The Daleks replied.

The Red Dalek turned back to the Black Dalek. “The Doctor also claimed to know the outcome of the experiment. How is that possible?”

“The Doctor cannot know the true outcome. His information has been reliant upon what he has been told. It is another arrogant Time Lord bluff. They believe they know everything about the universe. They cannot know our plans.” The Black Dalek turned to another control station. “Show me the Doctors progress.” It ordered.

A holographic screen flickered to life in the middle of the command centre, showing the laboratory where the Doctor was working. A prototype maching had been moved to the centre of the lab and was now sitting open for the Doctor to work at. Behind him sat a glass tank containing the Dalek mutant in a bubbling greenish solution. The Doctors head and shoulders had disappeared into the open machine. His arm reaching out for the sonic screwdriver that had been brought for him.

“Continue to observe his progress.” The Black Dalek ordered before turning and exiting the command centre.

*


Jessica Lawton was running. Running for her life. She didn’t remember a time she had ever run this far and fast. Her heart was pounding and she could hear her blood gushing in her ears. Her chest was tight and hear breathing was coming in ragged gasps for air. She was tired and wanted to rest, but she daren’t stop. Adrenaline was giving her the energy to run and fear was stopping her from stopping. She, along with arguably one of the most beautiful people she had ever met, were running from arguably the most evil and deadly creatures that the universe had ever spawned.

Jess’ companion, a Thal girl by the name of Tifa, was tall, blonde, athletic and beautiful, and Jess couldn’t help feel twangs of jealousy every time she looked at her. Twangs of jealousy that she had to put to the back of her mind because they were being overriden, not only by fear, but the pity that Jess felt for this girl and her people, who had been turned to slaves for their persuers own needs.

Their pursuers, the Daleks, had just killed one of their small group and were now hunting them relentlessly. Jess had no idea how long and how far they had ran. They both knew that the Daleks would not give up, but they also didn’t know how far ahead of them they were. They had been lucky in running along roof spaces for a while and eluded the Daleks who were right behind them. However, they didn’t know what had happened to Tom and Faron, who were trapped in a cellar by two more Daleks.

“No, stop. I need to stop, please.” Jess gasped, leaning against the side of a building for support, breathing heavily.

“Jess.” Tifa gasped between gulps of air. “The Daleks may be just behind us. We cannot stop.”

“How far have we run?” Jess managed.

“We are almost the other side of the settlement.”

“Then we hide here. It’s what Tom suggested. He and Faron will meet us here, somehow.” Jess finally collapsed to a sitting position on the dusty street. A strong breeze had now whipped up bringing with it, dark and heavy storm clouds that loomed ever closer, threatening rain.

The sudden sound of a door opening mere meters down the street made both women start, as a dishevelled figure emerged from the now open doorway.