For a moment, as their eyes met on that tower, a terrible hope bloomed in his chest. A selfish hope, nothing to do with Earth's survival or the future of the Human Race. A look that promised compassion and understanding far beyond anything he had dared to dream of with Rose. And the other felt it too, he could see, for the desperate moisture in the other's eye could not be attributed to the natural slime exuded by the Dalek.

It was remarkable, really. Humans and even Time Lords had spent eons trying to understand and channel that ephemeral quality of "emotion", yet here was a Dalek newly granted that curse and he hand marshaled his comprehension, understanding and compassion in mere moments. Perhaps Daleks were superior after all. Then, it all went wrong.

He didn't want to leave him there, with those Daleks that could so easily crush the embryo of his hope, but it seemed that habit was stronger than love. The moment the opening came, he ran. As he looked at the chaotic scene white the elevator closed, and met the other's eye, he did not see the recrimination and betrayal he expected, but a silent plea he could not decipher.

He saw him again, forced to crawl into the room in chains, like a dog. Anger glimmered in his eyes at this degradation, and he moved swiftly, leaping over the theatre seats. Perhaps the Daleks were too used to people running away, for they seemed confused for a moment. A moment was all it took as he snapped the chains with fury-filled muscles.

"Sec…"

"You should have run."

"There is hope still. Up on the tower…"

"Don't say it….I know. They have your eyes."

Neither knew who moved first, but their lips touched, melded in a soul-searing kiss. A sudden, shocked hush fell over the room. Even the Daleks seemed taken aback. Then, a chaotic explosion of noise followed.

"ACTIVATE GAYDAR…ACTIVATE GAYDAR"

"Oh, my God! Those were some Gamma Rays!"

"Eeeww…that Dalek…thing…has tentacles! Martha, how could he?"

"Shut up! You're engaged to pig-boy! I'm watching!"

"YAOI FANGIRL ALERT YAOI FANGIRL ALERT"

"DALEK SEC IS COMPROMIZED. HIS LIKING FOR BLACK WITH METAL STUDS SHOULD HAVE ALERTED US SOONER…"

A lone Dalek-Human-Time-Lord Hybrid made his way to the stage to tug at a Dalek's toilet plunger. "Dalek Master, is that where baby Hybrids come from?"

Through it all, the Time-Lord and his love were locked in their passionate embrace. Warm spongy tentacles gently caressed his face as the doctor tasted a Dalek's emotions. In turn, the Dalek drew strength from the determined arms holding him close, safe. But Sec knew that safety was a momentary illusion, and he knew his Love understood that all too well.

By then, the Daleks had regained some of their inherent order.

"THIS THREATENS THE VERY DEFINITION OF DALEK."

"EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!"

Dalek Sec looked up at the Doctor, that same unidentifiable plea in his eye. As he was roughly snatched out of the screaming Doctor's arms, he formed his last words, and finally, the Time-Lord understood.

"Remember me."