Philosophy of a Dalek
I am a Dalek.
Daleks are supreme.
Sort of...
One day I discovered "confusion."
-
I wondered what my future would be like.
Many years of existence had gone by, working diligently on the face of Skaro in the name of the growing Dalek Empire. Once Skaro was ours, we were quick to organize ourselves. The Supreme Council was forged from the strongest and most intelligent of the Daleks. The Supreme Daleks in black and gold. Great cities were built, and our population continued to grow. No creatures dared to come near us, those that could survive the radiation anyway. Already there was talk of conquering other planets and the crafting of our first deep-space vessels.
My old excitement and curiosity was revived with double the vigor. The exploration and conquest of the universe. What will we see? What will we conquer first? These thoughts were impossible to ignore, but I succeeded in controlling myself. I knew that another mishap would cost me my new position as well as my life.
After quietly obeying orders and carefully keeping my thoughts to myself over the course of several years, I eventually moved away from simple tasks and became the figurative right hand of a commander. Commanders and members of the council were usually flanked by one or two Daleks that acted on their behalf: opening doors, receiving/sending transmissions from long distances, acting as a guard, or simply performing whatever task they were too preoccupied to do themselves. I just so happened to be assigned to the same Dalek commander that threatened to end me... and my job was to follow their every move and wait for an order. If my attention wandered for even a single rel too long, I would be dead.
I wisely chose to act as if the incident between us had never happened. My commander did the same. After all, if I was obedient and useful, the past was not relevant. The position had its perks, too. From my commander, I learned about our plans for other planets, and I was regularly in the presence of the Supreme Council within the largest building in the first city. I remember seeing the Supreme Daleks for the first time. Their armor was different from ours, distinguishing them from all others. I remembered feeling a vague sense of awe. These Daleks had the power and loyalty of thousands of Daleks, soon to be millions. They were above us. When I realized this, I became confused. After a strategic meeting concluded and the construction of the first spacecrafts was officially commenced, I dared to speak to my commander about my newfound turmoil. I waited until there was significant distance between us and other Daleks returning to their previous positions.
"COMMANDER, I HAVE A QUESTION," I began slowly.
I sensed irritation, and a gruff voice responded, "DALEKS SHOULD NOT NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS... WHAT MUST YOU QUESTION?"
"DALEKS ARE SUPERIOR TO OTHER SPECIES, BUT WHY ARE SOME DALEKS SUPERIOR TO OTHER DALEKS?" I spoke quickly, not wanting to incur wrath or be heard by others. "ARE WE NOT THE SAME?"
My commander paused, deciding whether to answer or ignore my inquiry. Eventually, they answered, "ALL DALEKS ARE SUPREME, BUT WE MUST HAVE STRUCTURE. WE ARE THE SAME, BUT WE CANNOT ALL BE LEADERS. THE SUPREME COUNCIL WILL REPRESENT OUR STRENGTH AND SUPERIORITY TO THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE. YOU LACK EXPERIENCE. YOU WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND." They paused, looking out through a window to the city below us. The metal streets were bustling with busy Daleks. "SOON ENOUGH WE WILL LEAVE THE HOME WORLD. UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE SUPREME, YOU TOO WILL REPRESENT OUR POWER. THE UNIVERSE WILL HAIL US AS THE SUPREME BEINGS!"
I absorbed the words hungrily and took them to heart. I said no more as we left the building and began the slow journey back to the heart of the city. The reinforced building we later entered was the perfect place for target practice, to ensure that we were all battle-ready. Practice sessions were brief, given how powerful and accurate our weaponry was. There was no need for extended exercises, only the occasional test to confirm that everything was in working order. As usual, performances were perfect. With all said and done, we were sent back to work expanding the cities.
I remember being alone in the outskirts of the first city. My commander was slightly deeper in the city, coordinating a group of soldiers preparing to patrol the borders of our land. I had finished examining and testing the new roadways that had just been finished. The metal surface was smooth, allowing me to glide over it soundlessly. The sun had set, and the land unusable to us had grown quiet and dark while the lights of the city were illuminating our great constructions. From my position, I was on the very edge of Dalek society. I watched the world outside, knowing that other creatures would be stirring now. I looked down at the uneven ground, wondering for a moment what it was like to tread on it. Would it be noticed if I...? I was well aware that the idea I had just gotten was a wrong one, and most likely punishable. At the same time, I did not recall ever being told specifically that I could not leave the metal roadways. Surely just a moment would do no harm. I cannot run out of power that quickly. On that day, I figured out what a "loophole" was.
I quickly checked behind me. No one was around. I slowly rolled off the road and stood on the unclaimed rocks. It was rough and unstable, but I found satisfaction in it. I was the first Dalek to be in that spot. It was mine in a way. Daleks had no possessions; that would imply sentimentality. I assured myself that this was different. I was merely sating my curiosity. Nothing more. I was still excited.
At least, I was excited until the rocks shifted beneath me.
They slid out from under my casing, and I fell forward into the rock. I heard one or more of my attachments snap, but I could not be sure which one. Upon impact, I was jostled about in my casing. The pain it brought was like nothing I had ever experienced. Given that my physical form was exposed to nothing and rarely moved, my skin was sensitive, and such sudden movement was agonizing. It was dark. I could see nothing and do nothing. Dalek casings were no exactly light-weight, and we did not have the means to pick ourselves back up.
I was found at dawn. To my fortune, the patrol assumed that I had run into a group of aggressive mutants living in the nearby jungles. I did not correct them. My eye stalk and sucker stick were broken but easily repaired. After a final examination to ascertain my stability, my commander came to retrieve me. I was reluctant to look at them. I felt... foolish. Had they had a sense of humor, they would have surely laughed at my carelessness. I half-expected to be shot, but for whatever reason, I was spared another day.
I started to think that any future I had would be unpleasant.