The Doctor frowned as he disconnected the intercom. He disliked being summoned. In fact he hated being at anyone's beck and call, especially the devious Ferain. The other Time Lord reminded him of a lizard basking in the sun. It seemed placid enough but was dangerous and quick to strike if provoked.
He straightened his scruffy tailcoat as he left the quarters he had been given in the Capitol. That was something else he didn't like. They didn't trust him enough to let him use his own TARDIS!
Then again, he reflected as he turned into the corridor that led to Ferain's office, maybe they had a point. Given the slightest chance, the Doctor would pilot the TARDIS away from Gallifrey, never to return. And they were not giving him the opportunity.
The Doctor walked into Ferain's office without bothering to knock. He settled into the chair opposite the grey haired Time Lord.
Ferain looked up at his crumpled visitor. "Do come in, Doctor. Sit down. Make yourself at home."
The Doctor ignored the sarcasm. "Whatever it is, Ferain, I'm not doing it. I don't care if you turn me over to the Chancellery Guard for the completion of my sentence. I've been thinking and I don't like what you did to the Gith."
Ferain shook his head. "The Gith are a dangerous race, Doctor."
"There were only eleven of them!"
"Maybe so, but there may be others out there. We can't risk them establishing a power base. Now, I hope that puts your mind at ease."
"It doesn't. So whatever you want me to do for you, forget it."
Ferain steepled his fingers on the desk in front of him. "Daleks!"
The Doctor's slouched posture straightened. His eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
Ferain waved a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. You're not interested."
The Doctor sighed. "I know what you're doing, Ferain, but if it involves the Daleks, I'll bite."
The other Time Lord almost smiled. "Your recent trip to Skaro was of great interest to the Time Lords when they discovered what had happened. A Dalek civil war. That was quite a feat, even for you, Doctor."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Ferain. What is the mission?"
"Well, your humanised Daleks lost the war, as you ask. However, some of them stole a shuttle and escaped from Skaro. With the planet still in turmoil they were not pursued."
The Doctor was interested despite himself. "What happened to the rebels?"
"They encountered a stable wormhole and emerged on the opposite side of the galaxy to Skaro. A fresh start. A chance to establish a colony away from other Daleks."
"Stable wormholes are very rare," the Doctor commented. A thought occurred to him. "Did they have help?"
"I'm sure a race with the power to create a temporary stable wormhole would be civilised enough to use their technology to benefit others."
"I'm sure," the Doctor scowled. "While this is all very interesting, what has it got to do with us?"
Now Ferain frowned. "The colony is in trouble. Your mission, Doctor, is to help the Daleks!"
***
Damon had been waiting beside the TARDIS when the Doctor arrived. Ferain hadn't accompanied him this time, but he had released the key to the Doctor in his office. He claimed he had other things to do.
Now the TARDIS was in flight and the Doctor had hardly spoken. Damon's natural curiosity overrode his caution.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
For a moment he thought the Doctor hadn't heard him and was about to repeat his question when the scruffy Time Lord spoke without looking up from the console.
"Skaro Prime."
"Skaro?" Damon exclaimed.
Now the Doctor looked up. "They didn't brief you, did they?"
Damon shook his head. "I was told to make my way to the TARDIS and wait for you."
The Doctor sighed. "How much do you know about my recent trip to Skaro?"
"Only the rumours," Damon replied honestly. "Did you really start a civil war among the Daleks?"
"It's not something I'm particularly proud of," the Doctor told his companion. "The Daleks set a trap for me, hoping to use me to assist in their evil experiments. But I was able to turn the tables on them. The civil war was merely a by-product."
"So what happened next?" Damon wanted to know.
"Well, my companions and I escaped, thinking the Daleks had destroyed themselves. Now Ferain tells me that the Daleks I managed to humanise lost the war and escaped. Apparently they need our help."
"What are these humanised Daleks like?"
"Well, they look very much like normal Daleks. It's the way they act. They are playful, artistic and argumentative. They picked up a full range of humanoid emotions and feelings."
"And they need help?"
The Doctor nodded. "These Daleks set up a farming colony on the opposite side of the galaxy from their more aggressive cousins. They named it Skaro Prime. And for some reason, it's failing."
Damon was about to ask something else, but the familiar roar of materialisation interrupted him. The Doctor checked the instruments.
"Skaro Prime, right on target. I really will have to congratulate Ferain and his technicians for their improvements to the navigational systems." Something in the Doctor's tone, however, told Damon that the last thing the Doctor would do was thank Ferain for anything.
They stepped out of the TARDIS into a small town square. Under their feet the roads were metal, as were the surrounding buildings. They could see cultivated fields beyond the edge of the town.
"Is this the right place?" Damon asked. There was no sign of life in the town.
"Definitely," the Doctor told him. "It's a scaled down version of the Dalek city on Skaro." He pointed to a nearby building. "See how the doorways are shaped?"
Following his finger, Damon could see that access to the building had been planned with Dalek needs, rather than humanoid ones, in mind.
"HELLO, DOCTOR."
The voice startled the two time travellers. Spinning round, they found themselves confronted by a Dalek.
Despite the fact that he knew these Daleks were peaceful, the Doctor found that coming eye to eyestalk with one was still a shock. His eyes travelled down its body, looking to see what the gun was doing.
But there was no gun. In the place where it should be was a telescopic manipulator claw. Across from that was the usual suction arm. This Dalek was unarmed.
And it seemed to have recognised him. It had, after all, called him by name. He peered closely at the creature, trying to spot some identifying feature.
"Alpha?" he asked.
If the Dalek had a mouth, it would certainly have smiled. "YES, DOCTOR. I AM PLEASED YOU REMEMBER ME."
"How could I forget?" the Doctor replied, beaming. "How are Beta and Omega?"
"THEY ARE GONE, DOCTOR." The grating voice seemed tinged with sadness. "BETA WAS AN EARLY VICTIM OF THE EMPEROR'S FORCES. OMEGA WAS DESTROYED FIGHTING A REARGUARD ACTION WHICH ALLOWED OUR SHUTTLE TO ESCAPE."
The Doctor patted the Dalek awkwardly on the flank. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"WE MOURN THEIR PASSING AND REMEMBER THEM AS HEROES," Alpha stated simply.
"How many of you survived?" the Doctor inquired.
"WE WERE 512 BEFORE THE WAR BEGAN. 132 MADE IT SAFELY TO SKARO PRIME."
The Doctor bowed his head slightly. Then he seemed to remember something.
"Where are my manners? Alpha, this is my companion, Damon. Damon, this is my good friend Alpha."
Damon had been hanging back, keeping away from the Dalek. Now, at the Doctor's prompting, he stepped nervously forward. Unsure what to do, he smiled slightly and shook the Dalek's sucker arm.
"GREETINGS, DAMON," said Alpha.
"Hello," Damon responded, losing some of his nerves.
Alpha turned its attention back to the Doctor. "YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT A GOOD TIME, DOCTOR. WE NEED YOUR HELP."
The Doctor nodded. "Anything I can do, just tell me," he offered.
"OUR CROPS ARE FAILING. WE DO NOT HAVE THE SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE TO UNDERSTAND HOW OR IF WE CAN STOP THE PROBLEM."
"Why do you farm?" Damon asked. "I assume you don't need the food."
"YOU ARE CORRECT," Alpha stated. "WE PRODUCE AND EXPORT FOOD TO THE HUMANOIDS OF THE LOCAL SYSTEMS. IN RETURN THEY TRADE SCIENTIFIC AND MECHANICAL PARTS WITH US."
"Do you have a laboratory?" the Doctor inquired. "Somewhere I can study samples?"
"YES," replied Alpha. "WE HAVE A FULLY EQUIPED LABORATORY AT YOUR DISPOSAL. THANK YOU, DOCTOR."
The Doctor smiled sadly. "You can thank me when we've beaten this problem. Until then we'll just have to do our best."
***
The laboratory was very well equipped. Damon was certainly impressed. The only slight problem was that some of the controls could only be operated by a Dalek. The Doctor pointed this out to Alpha.
"I SHALL ARRANGE FOR A TECHNICIAN TO ASSIST YOU," Alpha told them.
A few minutes later, another Dalek glided into the room. "REPORTING FOR DUTY, ALPHA," it intoned.
Alpha introduced their guests. "THIS IS THE DOCTOR AND DAMON. THEY ARE HELPING WITH OUR PROBLEM. YOU WILL ASSIST THEM."
"GLADLY," replied the Dalek.
"DOCTOR, DAMON, THIS DALEK IS DESIGNATED JAMIE."
The Doctor seemed surprised. "Really? That is an unusual name for a Dalek."
"WE ALL TOOK NAMES WHEN WE BECAME INDIVIDUALS," Jamie said proudly. "IT WAS A GREAT HONOUR TO TAKE THE NAME OF ONE OF YOUR COMPANIONS."
"I suppose it was," the Doctor replied, still a little stunned. "I'm sure my Jamie would be honoured too."
"I AM PLEASED," said Jamie the Dalek. "WHERE SHALL WE BEGIN?"
***
The Doctor and Jamie spent nearly two days analysing soil and crop samples. Damon had trained as an engineer, so was able to do little more than watch.
Towards the end of the second day, the Doctor stood back from his electron microscope. He removed the slide he had been studying.
"Well, this seems to prove my initial theory," he said quietly. He turned to his Dalek assistant. "Jamie, go and fetch Alpha please."
"CERTAINLY," Jamie replied, trundling out of the room.
The Doctor smiled. "Makes a nice change from 'I OBEY'," he said.
"You've found something then?" Damon asked.
The Doctor's face darkened. "Oh yes, Damon. I've found something alright. Something very nasty."
At that moment Alpha appeared in the doorway, Jamie just behind.
"PROGRESS, DOCTOR?" Alpha asked.
The Doctor nodded. "Yes, of a sort." He flicked a switch and what he had seen through the microscope was displayed on a large screen.
Alpha studied the squirming shapes on the viewer. "THIS IS NOT MY AREA OF EXPERTISE," the Dalek said simply.
"Well, basically, the crops are being destroyed by an airborne virus. At the current rate of progress, your entire farming industry could be devastated in a little over a week."
"SO, WE ARE FIGHTING NATURE," Alpha deduced.
The Doctor shook his head. "If only it were that simple." His face clouded. "This is no natural phenomenon. The virus has been genetically engineered."
"Who would do such a thing?" Damon asked.
The Doctor frowned. "I don't know, but I intend to find out." He held up a glass vial for Alpha's inspection. "Do you still have the shuttle you escaped in?"
"WE DO," the Dalek replied.
"Then get this antidote replicated and sprayed over the fields. It will destroy the virus that's killing you crops."
"THANK YOU, DOCTOR."
The Doctor shook his head. "Don't thank me yet, I've not found the cause of all this. Now, can I have access to your trading records?"
***
"Any luck, Doctor?" asked Damon as their third day on Skaro Prime started to turn into night.
The Doctor looked up from the computer monitor and sighed. "Nothing," he replied wearily. "You?"
"Nothing that seems out of the ordinary," Damon told him. "But then, I'm not really sure what I'm looking for."
"Me neither," the Doctor said glumly. "I was hoping something obvious would present itself."
The Doctor stood, stretching his small frame. Then he came to stand behind Damon.
For a few minutes he watched his companion work, engrossed in the information scrolling up the screen. Then something caught his eye.
"What's that?" he asked, reaching forward to point to a link on the screen.
"Seems to be a control link for a weather satellite," Damon said with a shrug.
"Activate it," the Doctor told him.
Damon did as instructed, bringing up a status menu. The Doctor's eyes flickered across it until he saw what he wanted.
" 'Camera inoperative'," he read. Then he smiled at Damon. "Time to see what's out there, I think."
The screen jumped a few times, then a picture sprang up. It was Skaro Prime, as seen from orbit. Only the geographical features could be seen from this height, though the Doctor didn't doubt that the satellites camera could, if needed, focus in on an individual plant or insect. However, he wasn't interested in the planet at this stage.
"Turn the satellite," the Doctor requested, indicating a drop down menu on the screen.
As the satellite, and with it the camera, turned, the hard vacuum of space filled the screen. Then, as the angle of rotation exceeded one hundred and eighty degrees, a new shape came into view.
It was dull, grey and lumpy, the outside pitted and scored with long years of use. The spaceship sat in the middle of the monitor, an ugly blot on the beauty of open space.
"A class two planet hopper," the Doctor said, identifying the type of the craft.
"Not a Dalek ship then," Damon deduced.
"Indeed not," the Doctor confirmed. "I wonder who it does belong to though."
***
When they called in Alpha, it recognised the craft instantly.
"THAT SHIP BELONGS TO CHON ANDERS. WE TRADE WITH HIM."
"When was he last on Skaro Prime?" the Doctor asked.
"SEVEN DECA RELS AGO."
"A week then. And when is he due back?"
"OVER A MACRO REL," came the reply.
"A macro rel is equivalent to one month," the Doctor said for Damon's benefit. "So why is his ship hanging in orbit?" the Doctor seemed lost in thought for a moment, then he turned to Alpha. "I think we should go and talk to Mister Anders. Is your shuttle back from spraying the antidote yet?"
"IT IS ON ITS WAY FROM THE LAST SITE NOW," Alpha told him.
"Good," the Doctor replied, rubbing his hands together.
"Can't we use the TARDIS?" Damon asked.
The Doctor shook his head. "The TARDIS and I are not very good at short hops," he informed his companion.
"IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED?" Alpha inquired.
"As a matter of fact there is," the Doctor said. "I assume you keep some spare parts for yourselves."
"WE HAVE A FULLY STOCKED STORE ROOM OF DALEK BODY PARTS," the Dalek confirmed.
"Excellent. Now, this is the plan..."
***
"Chon, we have a contact," called Mal Ingers from the tactical panel.
"Where, in space?" Chon Anders asked from his position at the back of the bridge of his ship.
"Nope, coming up from the planet surface."
"Coincidence?" asked Den Enbers, the third and last member of the crew.
"Doubt it, they are heading straight for us," Ingers stated.
Chon Anders smiled grimly, running a hand across his bristly chin. "So, the Daleks have spotted us, eh? Let's make them welcome!"
***
Anders and his two crewmen were waiting at the airlock when it hissed open to admit Alpha and Jamie.
"This is an unexpected pleasure," the human said, sarcasm etched into his tone.
"Isn't it just," replied a voice from the airlock. A non-Dalek voice.
"Who are you?" challenged Anders as the Doctor stepped through from the Dalek ship.
"THE DOCTOR IS A FRIEND TO THE DALEKS," Alpha intoned.
"Indeed," said the Doctor, thinking how strange that phrase sounded. "I think we have a lot to discuss, Captain Anders. Now, shall we go somewhere more comfortable?"
"This way," Anders said grudgingly, leading them down the corridor towards the bridge.
When they had gone, a lone Dalek moved out of the airlock. It looked around carefully before going in a different direction to the others.
***
"Now, Captain Anders, what brings you back to Skaro Prime so soon?" asked the scruffy little Doctor.
"I'm not sure what business it is of yours," Anders said defensively. "A man's got a right to go where he wants in space."
The Doctor smiled slightly. "Actually, that's not strictly accurate. The Armageddon Convention passed legislation giving any populated world the right to an exclusion zone around that world into which nobody can cross except those on legitimate business. Forgive my quoting chapter and verse, but I did help to draft it."
Anders narrowed his eyes. "And you're a friend of these Daleks?"
"Of these Daleks, yes, I am a friend," the Doctor told him. "Now, about that question of mine you didn't answer..."
***
The lone Dalek spy had reached the cargo bay. Looking around, it found a data port on the far side of the bay. In place of the gun stick on this Dalek was a telescopic probe, which it now attached to the port. Data started to download to the computer terminal housed inside the casing.
But this was no ordinary Dalek. In fact, it was just a shell, with Damon squeezed inside. Being quite tall it had been quite an effort for him to clamber inside the empty casing, but he had managed it. He wasn't sure how he was going to get out again though.
Now he hunched over the hastily rigged computer screen. A list of items scrolled past. Then he spotted one he recognised from the Doctor's briefing. And another. When he found the third, he knew that the Doctor had been correct.
Typing a message into the terminal, he sent his findings to Alpha.
***
On the bridge, the atmosphere was turning frosty. Anders and his crew were still being evasive with any direct question asked by the Doctor. In return, the Doctor was asking more and more questions. It seemed a stalemate had been reached.
"DOCTOR," Alpha spoke up, "I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM THE SCOUT."
The Doctor turned to his Dalek friend. "Excellent. What has he found?"
"ALL THREE CHEMICALS ARE LISTED IN THE CARGO MANIFEST, AS YOU SUSPECTED."
"What you talking about?" Anders demanded. "What chemicals? Whose manifest?" It was obvious the man was very worried.
"We've done nothing wrong!" declared Ingers.
"It wasn't us!" added Enbers.
"Has anybody accused you of anything?" the Doctor asked mildly. "It sounds to me like you three gentlemen have very guilty consciences."
Anders paused to think for a moment. "That's right. You don't know anything, not for sure."
"I know enough to have your ship impounded and your business closed down," the Doctor told the man.
Now Anders face twisted into a cruel leer. "But you can't do anything about that if you're floating in space without a pressure suit."
"That's not going to happen though," the Doctor said confidently.
"And why not?"
"Because, Captain Anders, my Dalek friends will protect me."
Alpha and Jamie swung to cover the crew. They had gun sticks attached to their bodies, that had been kept in storage since the Daleks had arrived on Skaro Prime. They had never thought they would be needed again.
Anders laughed. "You think I'm scared of a bunch of tin farmers?" he said. In this part of the galaxy, the reputation of the Daleks hadn't preceded them.
"I think a demonstration is in order," the Doctor announced. "In your own time, Alpha."
The leader of the Daleks focused on Chon Anders and fired.
The man fell to the floor, clutching his legs. "What have you done?" he wailed. "I've lost all feeling."
"The condition is temporary, I assure you," the Doctor told him. "Now, we have a few terms and conditions for you."
"What terms?" asked Ingers, stepping in for Anders who was still nursing his useless legs.
"In return for not reporting you to the authorities, you will never enter the Skaro Prime system ever again. You will recommend someone reputable to trade with the Daleks in your place. And if I discover that you're using underhanded tactics against other races, I'll bring Alpha and Jamie here back to finish the job."
Ingers looked down at his Captain. "Well, boss?"
Anders gritted his teeth against the pain. "Yes, we agree. Now leave us alone."
"Gladly." The Doctor turned to Alpha and Jamie. "I think our work here is done."
***
Damon was already back at the shuttle and trying to struggle out of the Dalek shell when the Doctor returned with Alpha and Jamie.
"Let me help," the Doctor said, stepping forward. He grasped the younger Time Lord around the waist and pulled upwards.
Damon's lower torso popped free of the casing, causing the Doctor to overbalance and sending them both tumbling to the floor in an undignified heap.
As the Doctor scrambled to his feet, he was sure he could hear the Daleks sniggering.
***
Later, the Doctor and Damon stood beside the TARDIS, with Alpha and Jamie.
"WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH, DOCTOR," Alpha said. "THE ANTIDOTE IS STARTING TO WORK ALREADY AND THE CROPS ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK HEALTHY AGAIN."
"Oh, it was nothing really," the Doctor said modestly. "All part of the service."
"WELL, WE ARE GRATEFUL. WILL YOU VISIT SKARO PRIME AGAIN?"
"I can't promise, but I'll do my best. Goodbye Alpha, Jamie."
"GOODBYE," the two Daleks chorused. Damon waved farewell to them and he and the Doctor entered the TARDIS.
***
Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor stood over the console, monitoring their return course to Gallifrey.
Damon was looking a little bemused. "Nice Daleks," he said to nobody in particular. "I still find it hard to credit that there can be nice Daleks in the universe."
The Doctor looked up, smiling. "I know what you mean. I found it difficult at first too. But you get used to it."
"I'm glad we were able to help them."
"I don't think we are the only ones looking out for these Daleks," the Doctor told him lightly.
"Lord Ferain will be pleased," Damon said.
Now the Doctor frowned slightly. "I'm not sure that is such a good thing," he said with feeling.
Season 6B continues in: Maelstrom
