Author's note: I don't know what was going through my mind when I wrote this! If I was even using my mind! Please enjoy and leave with your sanity intact.

Words in this story: 610

"You will be exterminated," the Dalek informed Rory and the Doctor, rapidly advancing.

It lifted its deadly plunger to kill the trapped time-travellers. With a small creak, the Dalek pointed it at them. Then, with a cat-like noise, it started shaking, almost as if it was doing a pathetic imitation of the wave.

"I don't think it's supposed to do that," Rory said.

"No, Rory," the Doctor agreed. "It's not supposed to do that."

He turned away from Rory to face the Dalek and got out his Sonic Screwdriver. He ran the glowing stick over the Dalek.

"Of course," he said. "You're Dalek Mar."

"You know of me?" the Dalek croaked, for some reason not eager to kill Rory and the Doctor.

"Who doesn't?" the Doctor cried.

Rory sheepishly raised his hand and the Doctor sighed.

"Dalek Mar was famous on Gallifrey," the Doctor patiently explained to Rory. "Famous everywhere, as a matter of fact."

"Because he was dangerous?" Rory asked hesitantly.

"Because he wasn't," the Doctor said with a twirl.

Rory opened his mouth to respond, but closed it again. He couldn't understand what the Doctor was saying half the time. He'll explain it later.

"Dalek Mar is dangerous," the Dalek protested.

"He was refused by a female Dalek he was courting," the Doctor said to Rory, then turned to Mar. "Dalek. . . Mae, was it?"

"You will not talk of Dalek Mae," the Dalek commanded.

"So it was her?" Rory asked the Doctor quietly.

The Doctor nodded as calmly as he was capable of.

"What did you say?" Dalek Mar asked. "Repeat. Repeat."

"He didn't say anything," the Doctor said, walking around. "But you did. What did you say to Dalek Mae?"

"Do not speak of her," Mar twirled around.

"Doctor," Rory hissed. "Shouldn't we run?'

"Nah," the Doctor said. "He's not dangerous."

"Dalek Mar is dangerous," the Dalek repeated its (his?) statement from before.

"No, you're not," the Doctor said lightly. "What did Mae do to you?"

"She destroyed me," the Dalek said, giving up his protests about the topic of conversation.

"How?" Rory wondered, then clamped his mouth shut as Dalek Mar whirled around to face him.

"She made me. . . harmless," the Dalek spat (as much as a Dalek could spit).

"Yes, but how?" Rory asked, finding confidence in curiosity.

"She destroyed my. . ." Mar trailed off.

"He's ashamed," the Doctor said quietly to Rory, coming to a stop after walking around the room. "The plunger thingy is sacred to Daleks."

"Oh," Rory said. "Can we help him?"

"It's a Dalek," the Doctor reminded him. "A ruthless killing machine."

"Why did she do it?" Rory asked the Dalek.

"I. . . cheated on her," Mar said. "It was a mistake."

Rory and the Doctor ignored the fact that a Dalek was showing remorse and admitting to being or doing wrong.

"Where is she?" Rory asked.

"In the Dalek ship that is orbiting this planet," Dalek Mar looked up.

"Then apologize," the Doctor said. "I'm sure she'll take you back."

"Maybe she'll fix your. . ." Rory pointed to the Dalek's plunger.

If Dalek Mar could smile, it would light up the whole planet. Given that the three were in a cave, that was no easy feat.

"Elevate," Mar said.

The Doctor an Rory watched as the Dalek floated away to the spaceship. For once, they were not worried about stopping the pepper-shaker-like killing machines.

"Do you think they'll have a Dalek love-making session later?" Rory asked. "If they make up, of course?"

"We don't need Daleks to make love," the Doctor smiled as he dragged Rory to their bedroom on the TARDIS.