Series 1: Episode 6: Dalek P1:
"So Doctor, where are we going?" Rose asked, dancing around the console after the Doctor as he flipped levers and pressed buttons, doing all manner of things Rose couldn't make sense of at all.
"I don't know! Completely new, somewhere different for once!" The Doctor shouted happily, laughing as he ran. Rose giggled, running after him. It was a usual bumpy ride but this particular one got pulled entirely off course. They were thrown around in the blue box, going this way and that until it finally stopped, ending with both Rose and the Doctor on the floor laughing.
"What happened Doctor?" Rose asked, still recovering from the violent attack of laughter.
"I don't know." He answered, getting up to look at the screen. "A distress signal, we got pulled of course, the TARDIS honed in on the distress signal." The Doctor read off the screen, his voice becoming slightly more serious. Rose sobered up but still tried to be bright, despite his gloominess.
"Well then, we better go see what's outside Doctor." She smiled, running down the ramp and throwing open the doors before he could say another word.
"Ro-" He began but stopped when he realised she'd gone. He walked after her, sighing and shaking his head, closing the doors behind him.
"Where are we?" Rose asked, looking around.
"Earth, Utah, North America." The Doctor answered in short. "About half a mile underground." He added.
"And… when are we?" Rose asked, earning a nod of acknowledgement from the Doctor.
"2012." He answered, moving to find a light switch, using his sonic at the moment.
"God, that's so close. I should be… 26." She calculated, still watching the Doctor. He turned the lights on and she looked around. "Blimey, like a great big museum." She commented, looking down the row of glass cases.
"An alien museum." The Doctor corrected. "Someone's got a hobby – they must've spent a fortune on this. Chunks of meteorite, moon-dust. That's the mileometer from the Roswell spaceship." The Doctor commented, gesturing to different cases.
"That's a bit of Slitheen! That's a Slitheen arm; it's been stuffed!" Rose cried out in shock and disgust.
"Aw, look at you." The Doctor spoke, walking up to another case.
"What is it?" Rose asked, coming up behind him.
"An old friend of mine. Well, enemy." He changed, not thinking he would be able to count the metal head as a friend. "The stuff of nightmares reduced to an exhibit. I'm getting old."
"Is that where the signal's coming from?"
"Nah, that's stone dead. The signal's alive. Something's reaching out. Calling for help." The Doctor spoke, transfixed by the metal head, reaching out when the alarms started to blare and soldiers came rushing into the room, guns locked and loaded, ready to shoot and the Doctor was willing to bet they wouldn't think twice about killing them.
"If someone's collecting aliens, that makes you exhibit A." Rose commented, stating the truth.
With Valarie:
"And this is the last. Paid $800,000 for it." Adam introduced, carefully picking it up to give to Van Statten.
"What is it?" Van Statten asked.
"Well you see the tubes on the side? Must be to channel something, I think maybe fuel?" Adam suggested as Van Statten flipped it from side to side.
"I really wouldn't hold it like that." The stranger spoke, causing an automatic response from Ms Goddard.
"Shut it." She shouted in his face but he didn't listen.
"Really though, that's wrong." He corrected and Adam seemed to trust the man almost immediately.
"Is it dangerous?" He asked.
"No, just looks silly." He smiled, moving forwards, making every soldier in the room respond with their guns, taking aim. The man froze, to his credit, he seemed to see the danger of his situation despite his seemingly carefree nature. Van Statten held up a hand, pausing all possible shots and handed the man the device. "You just need to be..." He trailed off, concentrating on the device in his hands. "Delicate." He finished, making the device hum like music and she couldn't deny, it was interesting. She wanted to look further but didn't want to agitate Van Statten's eagle eye and settled for just enjoying the music the man was making.
"It's a musical instrument." Van Statten caught on, looking at it with a sick interest, making her swallow slightly, wondering what he was going to do with it.
"And it's a long way from home." The man added, making her wonder how he knew. Did he have some sort of qualification? Did he recognise it?
"Here let me." Van Statten snatched it from the man's hands, earning a raised brow that did not go unnoticed by her but she suspected Van Statten was too busy being infatuated with his new toy to see his displeasure.
"I did say delicate. Its reacts to the smallest fingerprint." He instructed as the man tried it, brushing his fingers over the device. "It needs precision." He added and once Van Statten had managed to make some sound come from it, he smiled. "Very good. Quite the expert." He commended, inflating his already massive ego.
"As are you." He smiled back before chucking the device to the side, making the stranger's smile fall and any trace of a small one from Valarie's face go as well. "Who exactly are you?" He asked, getting straight to business.
"I'm the Doctor. And who are you?" The 'Doctor' fired back.
"Like you don't know. We're hidden away with the most valuable collection of extra-terrestrial artefacts in the world, and you just stumbled in by mistake?" He asked incredulously, not believing the stranger's story.
"Pretty much sums me up yeah." The Doctor laughed, smiling again.
"Question is, how did you get in? 53 floors down with your little cat burglar accomplice." He asked, gesturing to the blond woman. "Quite a collector yourself, she's rather pretty." He commended, making Valarie's fingers twitch to reach for the gun.
"She's going to smack you if you keep calling her 'she'." The woman defended and Valarie smiled, happy that not everyone was conforming to Van Statten's low standards.
"She's English too!" He commented, not even looking at her. "Hey, Little Lord Fauntleroy, got you a girlfriend." He smiled, talking to Adam who took this as his cue.
"This is Mr Henry Van Statten." He introduced.
"And who's he when he's at home?" The blond asked and Valarie wondered how they were completely oblivious to who he was despite being captured in his museum.
"Mr Van Statten owns the internet." Adam elaborated, obviously just as confused as Valarie as to how they didn't know him.
"Don't be stupid; no one owns the internet." The blond replied, dismissing the idea.
"And let's just keep the whole world thinking that way right kids?" Van Statten smiled disgustingly.
"So you're just about an expert in everything apart from the things in your museum." The Doctor moved on, deducing the man. "Anything you don't understand you lock up." He stated.
"And you claim greater knowledge?" Van Statten asked, mocking him.
"I don't need to make claims, I know how good I am."
"And yet I captured you, right next to the Cage. What were you doing down there?"
"You tell me." The Doctor challenged.
"The Cage contains my one living specimen."
"And what's that?"
"Like you don't know."
"Show me."
"You wanna see it?"
"Blimey you can smell the testosterone." The blond joked, making Valarie smile with her down to Earth nature.
"Goddard, inform the Cage, we're heading down." Van Statten instructed. "You, English, look after the girl. Go and canoodle or spoon or whatever it is you British do." He told Adam who rolled his eyes at the blatant stereotypes. "She can look after you." Van Statten gestured to Valarie. "And you, Doctor with no name. Come and see my pet." He ordered, pretending to be friendly as you walked over to the blond and Adam, having been instructed to keep them safe.
"If you'd follow me Miss. Adam." She nodded to both, and took off down the hallway, hearing them follow her.
"Sorry, I've just got to pick up the next lot." Adam excused going down a different hallway as Valarie led the blond to the workshop.
"So, what do you do?" The blond asked Valarie who was a bit shocked at being spoken to.
"I am a guard. I switch shifts often but I mostly still stay with the other exhibits instead of the Cage." Valarie explained, still walking.
"What's your name?" She asked, beating around the bush.
"Valarie Miss. Valarie Waters." She replied, adjusting her cap.
"So, what about your personal life?" She asked.
"What about it Ma'am?" Valarie asked, tilting her head.
"You're British, despite the American accent." She deduced and Valarie looked at her in interest. No one had been able to detect her British accent through the one she always put on. No one for a whole year.
"How do you know Miss?" She gave up, dropping the act.
"I'm British myself, a Londoner at your service. Got quite a bit of experience in the accent department." Rose bragged slightly, making Valarie laugh before she stopped herself.
"Sorry Miss." She apologised, not having permission to laugh.
"Don't say sorry, it's good to laugh." She allowed, smiling kindly.
"Thank you Miss."
"No problem." She smiled. "So, how much do you get paid?" She asked, folding her arms.
"I'm not allowed to say Miss. I could get fired." She spoke, covering up the topic. Rose stuck her tongue between her teeth thoughtfully.
"Right, well did you go to school or something?" She asked, moving on although she could see the information being stored in her mind for later.
"Of course I did Miss. Every day, the local comprehensive. I joined the army and suddenly I get picked up by one of Van Statten's scouts. I don't know why he picked me, probably just part of the army squadron he drafted in but here I am." She told her, watching as the blond processed her words. "I really hated school though. I know I should be grateful but it just seemed like such a waste of time. So boring and useless." She moaned, remembering how hard it was for her.
"Me too." She laughed and they both laughed together. "Me and my mate Shireen used to skip classes. Run out of school, go to the local chippy or something. Drove my Mum mad when they called home." She revealed, making her laugh with shock and amusement.
"I would never be able to do something like that. It's too much. I almost caused a riot and no one ever let me forget it. It was just that my Mum needed me to get a good job and bring in money for Dad." She spoke and the blond smiled sympathetically, placing a hand on Valarie's shoulder supportively. "Thank you Miss." She smiled and they smiled together.
"No problem. You know, me and Shireen also went to go look at boys. There wasn't much of a choice but there were a few that were just…. Phew!" She blew out a breath, fanning her face and biting her lip nervously. Valarie giggled, trying to control herself as she remembered herself.
"Well, I didn't do much of that. Had I walked out of the school, the police would've been searching for me. I was always too good for that." Valarie told her, giggling still.
"What? No boys for you?" Valarie stopped, blushing as she looked away. "I bet you've got someone. A sweetheart?" She mocked, making Valarie giggle again. "Who is it? A fellow soldier? I don't blame you." She smiled, letting out another breath and Valarie couldn't control herself that time and laughed more.
"No Miss. No sweetheart for me." She spoke, somewhat decisively, hoping to have ended the conversation.
"Oh come on! There must be someone!" She spoke indignantly and Valarie blushed again.
"Well, there was a really cute friend back home but I don't know where he is these days. He's gone somewhere but I used to have the biggest crush on him. He had such a cute smile and he always used to help in the shop." She explained while the blond nodded along, murmuring her assent.
"Hmm yeah, I love a nice smile. And helping out is always a bonus. Cute, caring, kind and sensitive. Why didn't you marry him?" She asked, making her blush and giggle again.
"Because I didn't know if he loved me. He could've had someone else for all I know." She defended, rolling her eyes at the thought.
"What about anyone now? Do you have a friend here?" She asked, letting her get away with that one.
"Oh, well I have Hugh but he's more like a brother than a boyfriend." Valarie spoke, remembering the morning and their daily routine but Hugh was never too stern. She always thought he shouldn't be a soldier that he was more of a small town trade guy but she never objected because it wasn't her choice to make.
"But really, these soldiers do look good in their uniforms right?" She asked, nudging her.
"They're my friends Miss, but yes. It is not my place to say but yeah. I agree." Valarie smiled, trying to keep calm and wonder how this conversation got here. "But you don't need a uniform to look good." Valarie spoke, remembering her earlier encounter the other day.
"What do you mean?" Rose asked, sensing there was more to the story.
"I was in the jeep with Hugh. We were doing the regular town trip where we send letters, collect sweets etcetera and this man in a huge navy trenchcoat who looked quite hot, I can't really remember his face, just his clothes. It's quite blurred for some reason." Valarie excused, holding her head as she recalled what happened. "I was walking past him, and he tripped." She finished, with an odd smile.
"He tripped?" Rose repeated incredulously.
"He tripped." Valarie confirmed, nodding. "I saw him looking at me and when I looked back, he tripped. Almost fell to the floor before he caught himself." She elaborated.
"What were you doing?" Rose asked, wondering how that happened. She knew Valarie was very pretty and should have that reaction but the entire circumstance seemed very odd.
"I was just walking to Hugh. He was getting the jeep ready and I jogged a bit to catch up to him because he was playing around and moving the jeep. He didn't make it too hard and I caught up easily but I did run. Then I hung off the side of it before he slowed down enough for me to get in, when I looked back though. He was gone." Valarie told her, not fully understanding why Rose's face became a bit more thoughtful. She didn't think anything of it but Rose was deep in thought wondering if he was an alien or had gotten his hands on some alien tech.
"Have you seen him since then?" Rose asked, wanting the details so she could tell the Doctor.
"No. It was an experience that's for sure though." Valarie joked, making Rose laugh a little awkwardly as she barely noticed.
"You are very pretty though, it's no surprise he tripped over himself." Rose winked as Valarie bit her lip, adjusting her cap again nervously.
"I'm not that pretty Ma'am." She retorted as Rose rolled her eyes, snatching the cap from off Valarie's head.
"Now if we just do this…" She told her, pulling out the hairband holding her short hair in a ponytail. Her hair fell around her and she quickly put her hand to her head, raking her fingers through the strands. "See? You look great. Especially with your tan colour, it works so well with your black hair. You look great." Rose reassured as Valarie redid her hair quickly with another hairband on her wrist.
"My skin is a little more than tan. I would say I'm rather brown." Valarie laughed as Rose nudged her.
"The point still stands." She protested, offering the band back to her as she waved her hand at it.
"Keep it. Consider it a gift." She joked as Rose snapped the band around her wrist.
"Are you happy here?" She asked, slowly turning more and more serious.
"Yes, why do you ask Miss?" Valarie spoke, turning back around. She had been avoiding her gaze and turning away.
"No reason. It's just, Van Statten doesn't seem so nice." Rose explained, going about it lightly as she expressed her thoughts of the man.
"In truth Miss, I don't like it very much. I was much happier in the army but I don't even know if that's the place for me anymore. I don't know where I fit in." She confided and the woman smiled sadly at her.
"I get it, I used to work in a shop, every day was the exact same. Get up, get the bus, work then come home and eat chips."
"Sorry about the mess, Mr Van Statten sort of lets me do my own thing, as long as I deliver the goods." Adam apologised, walking back in and cutting their conversation short. "What do you think, that is?" He asked, picking up something from the basket near the side.
"A lump of metal?" She asked, taking it in her hands carefully.
"Yeah. Yeah, but I think, I'm almost certain it's from the hull of a spacecraft." Adam whispered in awed tones, making Valarie roll her eyes as they weren't looking. "The thing is, it's all true. Everything the United Nations tries to keep quiet. Spacecraft, aliens, visitors to Earth. They really exist." He whispered again to the blond, who was playing with her ear.
"That's amazing." She complimented yet she didn't seem to be fully amazed, like she'd already believed it and didn't need proof but without proof she only sounded like a nutter.
"I know it sounds incredible but I honestly believe the entire universe is just teeming with life." Adam expressed and she carried on playing with her ear and Valarie took it as a sign of lying or hiding something. Neither was a good thing in Van Statten's base.
"I'm gobsmacked, yeah. And you do what? Sit here and catalogue it?" She asked, gesturing to the workshop around them.
"Best job in the world." He replied, getting to work.
"Imagine if you could get out there?" The woman asked, watching him carefully for his reaction as Valarie did for hers. "Travel amongst the stars and see it for real." She enticed.
"Yeah, I'd give anything." Adam admitted, entertaining the idea for a moment before coming back to Earth. "I don't think it's going to happen though, not in our lifetimes." He ended.
"Oh, you never know." She dismissed, dropping her ear. The timing was incredibly weird. "What about all those people who say they've been inside spaceships and things and talked to aliens?" She asked, raising a point.
"I think they're nutters." Adam stated, matter of factly. She turned around at this from examining the shelf and seemed almost let down for some reason.
"Yeah me too." She agreed, any trace of the disappointment from before gone as they laughed together. "So, how'd you end up here?"
"Van Statten has agents all over the world, looking for geniuses to recruit." Adam spoke, speaking too much to the blond, Valarie thought but knew that it wouldn't make much difference as Van Statten was probably going to wipe her memory anyway.
"Oh right, you're a genius." She mocked a little and Adam just shrugged it off, obviously having had to deal with it before.
"Sorry, but yeah; I can't help it, I was born clever." He told her before launching into one of his stories about his genius. "When I was 8, I logged onto the US defence system. Nearly caused World War 3." He bragged.
"What, and that's funny is it?" The blond asked, challenging him.
"You should've been there, just to see them running about. Fantastic!" He laughed.
"You sound like the Doctor." She commented and Adam asked what he'd obviously wanted to.
"Are you and him…?" He trailed off, not finishing the question.
"No, we're just friends." She defended and Valarie almost had to get out the room for fear of being sick.
"Good."
"Why is that good?"
"Just is."
"So, wouldn't you rather be downstairs? You've got all these pieces of metal and everything, but Mr Van Statten's got a living creature down there." She asked, moving closer towards him.
"Yeah, well I did ask but he keeps it to himself. Although, if you're a genius, it doesn't take long to patch through on the comms system." He boasted, tilting his head at the blond.
"Let's have a look then."
"It doesn't do much, the alien. It's weird, it's kind of useless. It's just like this great, big pepper-pot." He described, hacking into the comms with Rose leaning over his shoulder. The video link showed the creature being drilled into by one of Van Statten's mindless creatures.
"It's being tortured, where's the Doctor?" She asked immediately.
"I don't know." Adam responded, not having access to anywhere else.
"I do." Valarie cut in, having been listening for long enough.
"Take me down there now." She demanded and Valarie, gestured for her to follow as she used her security clearance to get through every border. She held her hand to her earpiece, talking to another guard about the Doctor in hushed tones so the blond wouldn't hear. It wasn't good news.
"Hold it right there." The guard asked, holding his gun up at them.
"Special clearance from Van Statten himself. They're hoping to get it to talk again." Valarie lied, holding up her badge. They got into the Cage with the creature and she only warned her. "Don't get too close. Don't die." She conditioned, trying to make her be careful as she watched the rebellious teen go closer.
"Hello? Are you in pain?" Rose asked tentatively. "My name's Rose Tyler. I've got a friend who can help, he's called the Doctor. What's your name?" She asked, walking right up to the eyestalk.
"Yes." The machine croaked and Valarie's heartstrings were tugged as she watched it communicate.
"What?" Rose asked, confused at its answer.
"I am in pain." It confirmed. "They torture me, but still they fear me. Do you fear me?" It asked, moving its eyestalk up so it could look at her.
"No." Rose answered honestly. She was a bit scared but she didn't fear the Dalek itself.
"I am dying." It admitted and Valarie took a few steps further to reach for the Dalek to sooth it but stopped, remembering her position.
"No, we can help." Rose began, her 'rebellious teen' phase changing into the mature woman she was growing into.
"I welcome death." Its robotic voice croaked, having difficulty with some words. "But, I am glad that before I die, I met a human who was not afraid." It spoke and Valarie breathed hard, trying to keep away from the two.
"Isn't there anything I can do?" Rose appealed one last time.
"My race is dead." It's voice breaking up the words. "I shall die alone." It stated and not for the first time, Valarie's anger at Van Statten flared up, making her clench her jaw and cast her eyes away. Rose went to touch the Dalek and Valarie noticed too late, running to grab her hand after it had burnt her. She started to pull her away as the Dalek began to start screaming with renewed life. "Genetic material extrapolated! Initiate cellular reconstruction!" It shouted, breaking the chains. Valarie grabbed Adam and Rose, pulling them with their arms away from the monster. Simmons came in with his drill like always, angry.
"What the hell have you done?" He asked, going up to it. She pushed the two civilians out of the Cage staying to watch what would happen to it. Simmons walked up to it, watching as it aimed it's plunger like arm at him. "What're you going to do? Sucker me to death?" He asked, mocking it for seconds before it launched it at his face, engulfing him.
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