--Oh, hai. This chapter was sort of painful to write, but that's the pain of remembering, I guess. Have some Tenpetals feels, because it's not like I could write a Doctor Who fanfiction without them.--
“We did not think you would find us, Doc-tor,” said the black Dalek in the center. The other two, flanking him, were bronze-colored.
“I always seem to,” said the Doctor.
“You cannot stop us,” said the Dalek.
“Oh yes I can,” said the Doctor. “Just as soon as I deduce exactly what you’re trying to do. Can I have a hint?”
“We will become the master race,” said the Dalek.
“Well, that’s pretty obvious, but how?” said the Doctor. “Why create an army of giant robots when you could just use Daleks?”
The Daleks were silent.
“Oh,” said the Doctor. “Oh. There’s only three of you, isn’t there?”
“We are the last survivors of Skaro,” said the Dalek.
“Oh, I’m sure you are,” said the Doctor. “And how did you survive? By hiding? That’s not very Dalek-like.”
“It served us well,” said the Dalek.
“But that’s not very honorable, is it?” said the Doctor.
“Daleks have no concept of honor,” said the Dalek.
“Terribly sorry to interrupt,” interrupted Sir Hakim, “But do you know each other?”
“The Doc-tor is our sworn enemy,” said the Dalek.
Sir Hakim turned to the Doctor, looking vaguely impressed. “Seriously?”
“Yep,” said the Doctor.
“It matters not,” said the Dalek. “Escort the Doc-tor to the memory chamber.”
The memory chamber, as it turned out, housed the biggest continuum capacitator that the Doctor had ever seen. It was beautiful; he could have stared at it for ages. But, given the fact that he was currently prisoner to the Daleks, that probably wouldn’t be appropriate.
He let the guards roughly shove him along, Sir Hakim trailing behind, until finally the Daleks stopped.
“We will use your greatest weakness as a weapon against you,” said the black Dalek.
“Oh, really?” said the Doctor. “And what would that be?”
“Your memories and emotions,” said the Dalek.
Realization dawned on the Doctor. “So that’s what you’re using the continuum capacitator for. Accessing my memories, is that it, then?”
He tried to act casual, but both his hearts were racing. Most of his memories wouldn’t affect him, but there was one particular strain that, if the Daleks tapped into it…he was afraid it would wreck him.
Unfortunately, knowing the Daleks, and also because those memories were fresh on his mind, that was probably exactly where they’d go first.
He stood still as the guards placed a headset over his head.
“You will fall, Doc-tor,” said the black Dalek.
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” the Doctor replied.
The black Dalek gave a command to the bronze one to its left. “Activate the continuum capacitator.”
“I obey,” said the bronze Dalek, rolling over to the control panel.
The Doctor closed his eyes and attempted to brace himself.
There was no avoiding it, and the least he could do was not let it affect him. Let the Daleks see that his biggest weakness was not actually a weakness at all.
He heard electricity crackling, and felt the continuum capacitator activate.
But, despite his frantic attempts to prepare himself, he was in no way ready for what he saw.
He was standing there, on Bad Wolf Bay.
She was there.
Rose.
Walking towards him.
This isn’t real, he told himself. It’s all in my head. It isn’t real.
“Doctor,” she whispered. “You found me.”
He struggled to form words.
“You’re not real,” he said falteringly.
She was standing right in front of him. “But can’t you see me?”
She placed her hand on his chest. “Can’t you feel me?”
And he could. He hated it, but he could. She felt warm and soft and human and real.
He caved in, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.
“Rose,” he whispered.
“I’m here,” she replied.
He felt tears hot on his face. “Rose…”
But even as he held her, he felt her fading away.
He could say it.
Right now, he could say it.
“I love you, Rose Tyler!” he screamed as his arms closed around nothing.
“I love you…”
The sand and the ocean faded away, leaving the Doctor kneeling on the floor of the memory chamber, sobs shaking his body.
“You see, Doc-tor?” said the black Dalek. “We have defeated you.”
…
Casa crept quietly down the tunnel, staying close to the wall. She didn’t have any idea what she was supposed to do now, but something was sure to come to her.
Another passage branched off of the tunnel about three yards ahead, and it looked like a light was flickering inside it. She slowly tiptoed up to it and peered around the edge.
She nearly screamed when she saw an Iron Giant inside.
She pressed herself against the wall and tried to catch her breath.
Something about it was odd.
If it was fully functioning and on high alert, like it should be in a situation like this, it would have immediately targeted any sign of movement, and, if it identified the source as a living organism, blasted it to kingdom come.
She peeked around the corner again.
Something was definitely wrong with it.
Part of the problem was the fact that both its legs and one of its hands were detached and lying on the floor.
She would have just continued down the hallway, but next to the Giant, she saw a stack of guns and ammunition.
Those would probably come in handy.
The Giant was definitely not on high alert, so she tiptoed towards the guns and prayed that it wouldn’t notice her.
Her blood froze when she heard metallic, gravelly voice.
“Intruder.”
She turned to it. It had said the word with a decided lack of energy, and its round eyes were only lit up halfway.
It obviously couldn’t do anything to stop her, since it hadn’t already converted to full battle mode, so she continued towards the guns.
But what the Giant said next surprised her.
“Can…you…help…me?”
She turned towards it. “Pardon?”
“Help…me,” it said. “They are trying…to…disassemble me.”
She stared at it and crossed her arms. “And you want my help?”
“Please.”
She frowned. “You are acting decidedly un-Giant-like. You just said please?”
“I…am…defective,” it said, touching a dent in its head with its intact hand.
Casa looked long and hard. A plan was already forming in her mind.
“Do you want to make a deal?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I can help you. All I’ve got to do is hack the radio frequencies that they’ve apparently jammed, and you’ll reassemble yourself. But in return, you’ve got to help me save my friend.”
“What…is your name?” said the Giant.
Casa raised an eyebrow. “My name?”
The Giant nodded. “Yes.”
“Casa Delterra,” said Casa.
“Yes,” said the Giant. “I am C-26, and I…will help you, Casa Delterra.”
“Great!” said Casa, darting over to the radio frequency control panel next to the Giant. “Nice to meet you, C-26. Let’s get you fixed.”
…
The Doctor searched for the faintest glimmer of strength in his pain.
His emotions were the very reason he always prevailed.
He couldn’t let them take him down now.
Rose.
He would do this for Rose.
Rose wouldn’t let him give up. She wouldn’t let him fall.
What would she say?
He staggered to his feet.
The black Dalek looked as triumphant as a Dalek could.
“No,” said the Doctor.
“No?” said the Dalek.
“No,” said the Doctor. “You have not defeated me. If anything, you’ve made me stronger.”
“How is this possible?” said the Dalek.
“Because now I know what I have to fight for,” said the Doctor. “I will fight for Rose.”