Susan hesitantly stepped outside of the T.A.R.D.I.S. clutching the tin container close to her chest. Nervously she glanced all about her amidst the thunderstorm. A clap of thunder erupting from the sky above startled her and she jumped back, almost colliding with the ship's exterior. The following bolt of lightning flashed, and Susan looked up to the sky, glancing fearfully about. Looking to the left she found a figure looming beside her and let out a silent scream.
The figure beside her stood taller than her by over a head and stood most human-like. If she hadn't known any better she would have assumed it to actually be an Earthman, only she knew this was not Earth. The shape of a lean man, a pale Grecian-looking man perhaps older than Mr. Chesterton, looked down at her. He had statuesque features with a sharp nose and solid jaw line. This being wore a dark cloak, its hood thrown back around his shoulders. There was no rain falling to protect his head from, and with it down there was no reason to believe he wished to remain hidden. The wind ruffled some of his fair reddish-blonde hair, but he stood immobile for a moment just watching her.
Reaching out beside her, Susan used the wall of the T.A.R.D.I.S. to support her, never taking her eyes away from the man. Her knees began to weaken in terror and she slid down to the ground, looking up at him, canister still clutched to her heart protectively. Mouth open she gaped breathlessly before she forced herself to speak above her terror. "Who are you?" she asked him. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice breaking. Her breaths came harder now and she struggled to hold in her tears.
Silence hung heavy between them a moment before he spoke up. "Don't be afraid," he told her. He still did not move. The voice was not unkind, but the sound startled Susan, causing her to fall back on her bottom where she sat. He stood there, looking down at her completely unchanged.
"What do you want?" Susan cried out. She clutched the vials tighter, now with both hands against her chest. There was no mistaking the trembling of her voice now. Her teeth were clenched to keep from chattering, and she tried not to shake so badly.
Again silence hung between them. Without answering he stepped closer to loom above her. His cloak came into the light of the storm. Similar to the marks of a turtle it bore some basic camouflage. Beneath the cloak he wore some strange pale vest-like tunic forming a "V" shape down his length which had open sides and fastened with a belt over dark pants. Down the outer length of the pant legs diamond shaped holes had been torn, exposing bits of his legs. He stood above her huddled, shaking form and watched as she turned her face away from him, curling into herself more.
When he didn't move any farther she glanced back up to him in confusion. Surely, she had thought, he would have struck by now. He still did not move, but continued to watch her. This time she really looked at him. She took in his features and face curiously from where she sat on the ground. She thought back to her grandfather's words from the Daleks. "But they said you… But they called you…" she began to say, hesitantly. He continued to watch her as she left her sentences unfinished. "But you're not," she concluded with surprise. "You're perfect," she told him, marveling over him.
"I tried to speak to you in the forest yesterday, but I frightened you," he spoke up, ignoring her words. "I am sorry," he apologized. His face remained neutral as he watched her.
Susan looked down to the ground and relaxed a little. "I was frightened," she admitted shyly, "I was terrified."
"Yes," he told her, "I was very clumsy." He saw as she again focused on him. "I have come to make certain you understand how to use the drugs I left for you," he continued, glancing towards the canister she now held loosely against her chest.
Immediately perking up, she turned to face him. "You left?" she asked. "But I thought they'd been dropped by accident," she explained.
"No," he answered.
"We didn't even know they were drugs," she said, cutting off whatever it was he was about to say.
His blank face fell some. "You mean you haven't taken them yet?" he asked, incredulously. He leaned over some at the waist to bring his eyes a little closer to her level. "But you must," he told her, his face finally showing the slightest of emotion.
Susan nodded. "That's why I came back, you see," she said. Carefully she stood back up before him. "My grandfather and two of my friends are prisoners in the city, and…" she told him in a rush.
"No, please, please," he interrupted her. He stepped closer still, and Susan immediately backed herself against the T.A.R.D.I.S. putting up a hand between them. He paused his movement towards her. "You're words are too quick for me," he offered in explanation, concerned. "There are four of you, I know that," he admitted, "I've watched you." His brows knit some in thought trying to decipher her earlier words. "What do you mean prisoners?" he asked.
Still regarding him with suspicion Susan kept the distance between them. "Well," she said, "don't you know about the Daleks?" she asked.
The man looked away, "So the Dalek people have survived," he murmured to himself. "But," he looked back to Susan, "But do they live in that dead city?" he asked her.
Susan nodded. "Well, underneath it, anyway," she replied. Adrenaline still rushing, Susan's breathing was still a tad ragged. "You see, the Daleks want the drugs, too," she told him, "and they won't let us go until I bring them back to them."
"But why should they want the drugs?" he interrupted her. "They surely must have some themselves if they're still alive," he said.
Shaking her head, Susan looked about them nervously. "I don't know," she said, growing more and more nervous. The war was between the Daleks and the Thals, if this man was a Thal at all. How much could be safe to share? Susan began to cry again. "My grandfather and my friends are terribly ill," she told him between her tears. "I must take the drug back to them," she said, turning towards the forest.
"No, no, wait," the man called, reaching out a hand towards her. "Are you sure the Daleks want the drugs for your friends and not for themselves?" he asked her.
Susan stopped and turned back to face him. "I hadn't thought of that," she said, face scrunching up.
"Do you trust them?" he asked.
"No," she immediately answered. She then paused and looked down. "I'm not sure," she said. She looked down to the container held tight to her chest.
"You still have the drugs I left for you," he said, eying the container. He then reached into his cloak. From the cloak he pulled out an identical container. "I shall give you a further supply which you must hide as best you can," he told her. Reaching the container out to her she flinched back from it. He paused, bewildered for a moment as her fear was plainly on her face. "Do you trust me?" he asked, his voice much softer this time.
In a moment of silence she looked into his eyes. She tried to discern something from them. She then smiled brightly and let out a breath of relief. "Yes," she told him, taking a step closer to him. He then reached out his other hand and held the second container out to her once again. Still smiling, she took it this time and clutched the two containers to her chest.
"I am Alydon of the Thal race," he said, standing straighter. "I shall go with you through the forest to the outer wall of the city, if you will allow me," he offered. He then undid the clasp to his cloak and drew it from his shoulders.
"Oh, thank you," Susan replied. She considered him for a moment. "But I don't understand. They said you were… Well, they called you mutations," she said, looking away from his face.
He smiled sadly and looked away. Glancing down to his cloak, he reached behind her and drew it over her shoulders. "Here," he offered, "take my cloak. You're cold."
"Thank you," she said, smiling. She turned away from him to fiddle with the cloak around her.
"We are the survivors of a final war," he started once she turned away. "But the radiation still persists, and that is why your friends are ill," he continued, now helping her with the cloak. "For a thousand years our drugs failed us and we were physically changed. After many generations we were able to develop working drugs and halt the changes, however while we do live longer now we will have to continue looking like this," he further explained. She nodded in understanding. Alydon then glanced up and about them sharply. "I wonder if the Daleks have seen us," he said.
Susan looked up to Alydon. "Seen you?" she asked, confused.
"I mean," he said, looking down to her. "If they call us mutations… what must they be like?" he wondered. Gently taking Susan's shoulder, he guided them away from the ship and into the darkness of the forest, a look of thought on his face.
In the main control room underneath the dead city, a Dalek glided into the room. He joined another Dalek before one of the main computer systems. "I have returned the girl to the cell," it announced to the room. The eyepiece swiveled around, watching the machinery work.
"Very well," the other Dalek replied. It was concentrating on one of the screens upon the monitor system. Another screen beside it showed a live feed from outside the city gates, while another still showed an open plane and a mountain in the distance.
"They are asking for water," the first Dalek continued.
The second Dalek did not take its attention away from the computers before it. "Then give them some," it replied shortly.
The first Dalek didn't leave. It twirled around in a circle before coming to stop just beside the second. The second finally brought its eyepiece away from the machinery and turned its head to regard the first. "It is clear that the girl must have made contact with the Thals," the Dalek said.
"Our prisoners could bring the Thals to us, then," the second replied after a moment of thought.
Making a mechanical noise of agreement, the first Dalek exclaimed, "Precisely that." It then quickly glided out from the room where it had made its entrance. The second Dalek watched it leave before turning its attention back to the computers.
Inside the room, Susan sat beside where her Grandfather laid on the bench, crying. She supported his head up with her right arm and nursed a small bowl at his mouth with her other. She watched his face, so covered with sweat, as he didn't move. "The Thal said the drug would act quickly," she cried, looking up to Ian who stood on the other side of the Doctor. She raised his head higher and made to pour more liquid into his mouth.
"Don't give him any more water, Susan," Ian said, stopping her. She looked up to him sharply. He crouched down and reached out and took hold of the Doctor's wrist. "His pulse is steady now, anyway," he explained further. Ian then took the bowl from Susan and moved from the Doctor. Susan brought her hand up and began wiping her Grandfather's forehead. Ian walked over to where Barbara sat and plopped down beside her.
"My arms are tingling," Barbara marveled, grateful for any sensation to her extremities. She massaged the muscles of her right arm. Ian leaned forward and watched her movements carefully.
"Yes," Susan said from where she sat. "Alydon said you'd feel that," she said, standing up to turn towards them. She glanced back down to her grandfather. "It just means the drug's working, that's all," she continued. Seeing the Doctor unchanged, Susan walked over to her teachers. She ran a hand through her hair in frustration.
Ian nodded thoughtfully. "This Alydon of yours seems to have kept his wits about him," he said. Barbara released her right arm and then crossed her arms to feel her shoulders. They were tingling as well, and she gently rubbed them. "Giving you that extra supply of drugs, I mean," Ian continued.
"Yes," Susan agreed. "It was strange when the Daleks found it," she told them. She shook her head. "They scanned me with a very strong beam of light. I thought first of all they were going to keep both lots. Then they suddenly seemed to change their mind and gave the second lot back to me," she explained, shrugging her shoulders.
"Still, the Thals seem more friendly," Ian observed.
"Oh, yes," Susan agreed with a smile. "Alydon gave me this cloak to keep me warm," she continued, moving over to where the cloak lay on the floor. She picked it up to show them the cloak once again, feeling the material gently with her hand.
"Why do the Daleks think they're mutations?" Barbara asked from where she sat on the floor. She had her hands together atop her lap now and was glancing up to Susan curiously. The girl had described the Thal she met just like a human which left Barbara very confused. Could this mean, she wondered, that perhaps they hadn't always looked human?
"I don't know," Susan admitted, smoothing the cloak between her fingers. "Judging by Alydon, they're magnificent people," she gushed, hugging the cloak to her chest. She smiled brightly thinking back to the tall man coming forth like some knight of old.
There was a groan from where the Doctor lay. Sweat glistening from his face, he called out. "Susan," he quietly called, his breaths now rapid and ragged.
"Grandfather?" Susan cried out in response, rushing over to where he lay. She quickly lifted his head as he opened his eyes and looked about. He began to reach out his hands when Barbara took hold of them, having also come over. Barbara held his hands gently and gave them a little squeeze in support. "You'll feel better soon," Susan promised him. "I brought the drugs back," she said.
The old man groaned in relief. "Give me a little while, then," he told her. "And then we must go back to the ship," he said, closing his eyes to rest.
"No," Susan argued. "We're still prisoners," she reminded him.
Opening his eyes again the Doctor blinked. "Oh," he said, "are we?" he asked. He closed his eyes to think for a moment.
"Oh, yes," Susan told him. He opened his eyes and looked up at her then.
"Well, we must leave here soon. We must leave. Yes," he told her. His words started drifting out and he fell back asleep, tuckered out. Barbara gently gave his hand another squeeze and then folded them together over his abdomen for him to rest comfortably. Straightening up, Barbara crossed her arms across her abdomen contemplatively.
Susan gazed down at her grandfather. She then stood up and turned to face Barbara. "As soon as Grandfather's properly awake, we must try and find a way of helping the Thals," Susan told her most seriously.
"We can't even help ourselves, locked up in here like this," Barbara countered with a shrug. She then glanced about the room, studying it.
Incredulous, Susan watched Barbara turn and move back to Ian. Thinking hard, she tried to think of something. "We must try and talk to the Daleks," she tried, turning and pacing as she spoke. Picking up the cloak from where it lay when she rushed to her Grandfather, she began smoothing it between her fingers again. "Alydon says the Thals are going to starve unless they find new supplies of food," Susan told her teachers. She then spread the cloak out on the floor and plopped down on top of it. "They are only numbering one hundred Thals now. After the war, the Thals that survived managed to cultivate small plots of land. Well, that's how they survived ever since," she explained. "But they've always had to be very, very careful because the crops have always been in danger. But, you see, they rely on a great rainfall that only happens about every four or five years. It's two years overdue now and all their crops are ruined. That's why the Thal race had to leave their plateau and go in search for food," she told them.
Inside the control room, two Daleks carefully watched the screen showing the inside of the cell. "Alydon says unless we can help them arrange some sort of treaty with the Daleks, they're all going to die," Susan's voice could be heard saying from a speaker. The screen was focused on Susan, but shifted at the sound of another voice.
"But how can we, Susan?" Ian's voice asked. One of the Daleks used the plunger-like arm to reach out and adjust one of the dials, shifting the view over to his face.
"Well, he wants to talk to the Daleks," Susan replied. The screen shifted to focus on her once again. "He said if they agree to supply food for them, then one of us must take a message outside the city," she answered.
The Dalek adjusted another knob and the screen blinked out to black. "The dangerous fact that emerges," says a Dalek, "is that the Thals have managed to survive the neutron destruction at all. They may be overestimating their food problem."
The other seemed to ponder the words. "They certainly seem to be very tenacious where life is concerned," it agreed.
"If not, we could let this catastrophe destroy the Thals," the first Dalek further suggested. It swiveled around to face away from the screen.
"Will they let themselves starve to death?" the second asked, drawing the first's attention. "No," it continued. "I feel preserving our prisoners was a good idea," it said. "We have been waiting for the rains to finally finish washing away the radiation. With the help of these drugs and more like them we can go outside and begin rebuilding earlier than anticipated."
The first Dalek turned to face the other. "And an arrangement to bring the Thals inside our city an even better one," it said, lights flashing from its domed head.
"We'll let our prisoners sleep and then give them food, after that we can plan," the second said.
"Why not begin now?" the first asked.
The second Dalek's eyepiece swiveled round. "Because the lapse of time, the relaxation of sleep, the provision of food; all these things will give a false sense of security," it explained with as much a patient demeanor as a computerized voice could have.
Some time later everyone lay asleep in the cell. Susan and her Grandfather each had a stretch of the bench to stretch out on, and languidly slept. Ian and Barbara lay upon the floor, beginning to get used to sleeping in strange places. A humming noise woke Ian from his slumber. He glanced about curiously before rolling onto his stomach. Reaching out behind him he roused Susan who happened to be closest to him and she woke with a start. The noise woke Barbara who looked over as Ian was beginning to stand up. Barbara quickly jumped up and looked to where the door was opening up.
As the doorway slid open it revealed a Dalek coming forth with a tray being supported by its plunger-like arm. It rolled in and presented the tray to the group. "We have brought you food and more water," it announced. The Doctor, now awake, propped himself up to a recline along the bench. Susan rubbed at her eyes where she sat. Ian was just now upright fully as Barbara came forth and accepted the tray. She carefully took the bowl of water and plate of food from the tray and brought them over to the others. "The girl is to come with me," the Dalek said, focusing its eyepiece on Susan.
"Why?" demanded Ian as he took a step towards the machine.
Susan stepped forward. "It's all right," she told him.
"So what are they going to do to her?" Barbara asked, still holding the bowl and plate. As Susan stepped closer to the Dalek, the Doctor swung his legs off the bench and sat up.
"She will be returned," the Dalek reassured her. "We are going to help the Thals, which is what you want us to do," it continued. Everyone glanced at each other. "Come now," the Dalek told Susan, backing out of the room. As they left, the door slid shut behind the girl.
Barbara presented the nourishment to the Doctor, who reached out for a piece of food. "I don't understand," the old man said. "Why have they taken Susan?" he asked. Unsure, Barbara looked up to Ian who came to stand beside her.
"How do they know we want to help the Thals," he asked, watching Barbara. Together they glanced back down to the Doctor.
Out of the city deep within the forest, Alydon sat perched against one of the trees and kept a watch out for movement. He was perched on an elevated platform near the T.A.R.D.I.S., the very same one he was on when he watched Susan go into the ship the night prior. A twig snapped in the distance and he spun around to face behind him. After a few moments another man similar to himself came into the clearing, leading a line of people behind him. This man was dressed identically to Alydon, but appeared to be some years younger, of age with Ian and Barbara and a fair blond head of hair.
A look of recognition filled Alydon's face and he deftly jumped down from his ledge. "Ganatus," he greeted the first man, who watched him approach.
"Alydon," the young man replied. He then turned and looked over to the T.A.R.D.I.S. curiously.
"You've been longer than I thought," Alydon continued, patting Ganatus on the back. Behind them as people filled into the area men and women took in their new surroundings.
Ganatus glanced back to Alydon who was smiling brightly at their arrival. "The path was rough," he answered seriously. Together they walked forward from the clearing, making more space for the others arriving behind them. Alydon led him past just a few trees.
"The dead city lies over there," he pointed out into the distance for Ganatus. Together they stepped forward some more to focus on the distant city.
Behind them some of the new people were carrying supplies and various needed things. "Put the tent over there," a voice called out from the small crowd. Two people carrying poles shifted over to where the voice commanded. One man set down a large bundle heavily in exhaustion.
"What is it, Temmosus?" a woman's voice called out from the group. Alydon and Ganatus turned at the question. A young woman was reaching out and touching the ship. Pale like the others with shoulder-length fair hair, her outfit was somewhere between a shoulder-less leotard and a dress. The dress part going down the length of her front had a dotted design. She looked the T.A.R.D.I.S. up and down, then stepped up against it and felt around it with her hands curiously.
Behind her a venerable and magnificent-looking older man watched. Somewhere just past middling age, he seemed the eldest of the lot of them. The clothing among the men were identical, including his, but he also wore a hat that wrapped around his head. He spoke up to answer the woman. "This must be the craft in which the strangers arrived here," he told her. Some of the people then started regarding the ship. "So, Alydon, we were right to believe the city inhabited," he continued, stepping over to stand with Alydon.
Alydon gave a short bow to the man. "Yes, Temmosus," he answered. The woman bent over to help one of the men unpack one of the bundles.
"I wonder what they'll be like," Temmosus said, glancing off towards the city, "how they'll be disposed towards us." He glanced up at Ganatus on his other side.
Ganatus met his gaze. "They are Daleks," he said. Turning away from the two, Ganatus then walked off to begin helping the others settle in.
"Yes, but we've changed over the centuries. Why shouldn't they?" Temmosus said. Backing up a step, he then sat down on the bundle the woman was working on unpacking. She stopped and stepped back, listening to the conversation. "The once famous warrior race of Thals are now farmers," Temmosus continued. He rested his arms on his legs in thought.
The woman leaned forwards towards the men. "But the Daleks were teachers, weren't they, Temmosus?" she asked.
"Yes, they were," he told her. As she came to crouch down beside him, he rested a hand across her shoulder, similar to how the Doctor were to hold his granddaughter. "And philosophers," he added.
"Perhaps they are the warriors now," Ganatus joked, coming to stand behind them. Seeing his words fell on deaf ears he went back to what he was doing.
Temmosus looked off towards the city. "From a distance, the city looks as if they make science and invention their profession," he marveled. Standing up, he walked around a small circle and came to stand beside the young woman crouched down. "It's a magical architecture," he said. "Perhaps we can exchange ideas with them… learn from them," he announced to the group hopefully.
"Perhaps," agreed Ganatus. His expression didn't seem to agree, however. No longer helping the others, he had perched himself up on the ledge reclining against the tree easier than Alydon had just minutes ago. Here he was about even with the men's faces and could see everyone as they could see him.
Then Temmosus turned to regard the T.A.R.D.I.S. beside him. "And these others," he said. "They arrived here in this weird object?" he asked, raising an arm to gesture towards the ship.
Alydon chuckled. "Yes, Temmosus," he answered.
Temmosus regarded Alydon seriously. "And you trust them, Alydon?" he asked gravely.
Stepping closer to the man, Alydon shrugged. "I have only spoken with the young girl, but if the others are anything like her I would trust them absolutely," he said. He brought his foot up to rest on the bundle Temmosus had been sitting on previously.
"I hope you're not too generous in your beliefs," Temmosus said, looking down. "Why do you say, Dyoni?" he asked the young woman crouched beside the ship.
She stood gracefully and kept her face blank. "I have no opinions in the matter," she said airily before starting to walk off.
"How unusual," gwaffed Ganatus, earning a hateful glare from Dyoni. A few of the group let out a chuckle. Dyoni turned her glare about to the group and they quickly silenced and went back to their work. Still with an unhappy expression she watched them a little longer.
"Where is the girl now?" Temmosus asked.
Alydon bent over and picked up the cables used to carry the bundle. "I had given her the drugs and she had returned to the city," he told Temmosus.
Dyoni turned on him sharply. "It would have been better if you had given them to a man instead of a girl," she announced. She glared at Alydon making him uncomfortable.
"I had no choice," he told her, his hands out in defense. "They're prisoners in the city," he explained.
"Prisoners?" Ganatus asked.
"Are you sure?" Temmosus asked, watching Alydon carefully.
Alydon turned to face Ganatus first. "I'm afraid so," he said. He then turned to address Temmosus. "From everything the young girl said, the Daleks are certainly very suspicious about us," he told him.
"Tell me, Alydon," Temmosus started, stepping towards Alydon and clasping his hands together with a smile. "How old is this young girl?" he asked.
Flipping his hand absently Alydon shrugged. "Oh, no longer a child, not yet a woman," he measured.
"Ah," Temmosus interrupted, "then perhaps it's safe for you to talk to her…" He paused here to pointedly look to Dyoni. "If she's not yet a woman," he finished. Dyoni looked down and away, drawing Alydon's confused eye. Ganatus chuckled from where he sat. Dyoni quickly walked off with a huff, a slight blush dusting her cheeks. Alydon glanced back and forth between Dyoni's retreating figure and Ganatus laughing to himself where he reclined.
"I-" Alydon stuttered. "I don't understand her," he exclaimed to Temmosus' smirking face with frustration, pointing to where Dyoni had walked off. "If we don't find a new food supply for next year, we're finished," he said. "Doesn't she understand that?" he asked, looking over to Ganatus. "We're all working towards the same end," he continued, glancing between the two men.
Ganatus, who had finally stopped his chuckles, started up again laughing fully. "Now, there's a double meaning for you," he said nearly choking on his laughter.
Temmosus' voice drew Alydon's attention back to him. "Don't you realize that Dyoni sees her personal future in you?" he asked. "You must remember that when we left our plateau and started on this journey, she was little more than a child. But that was four years ago," he continued.
Tilting his head this way then that, Alydon nodded. "I'm not quite so blind," he admitted, folding his hands behind his back with a small smile.
"Well, go on," Temmosus laughed. "What do you have planned?" he asked. He then sat on the same bundle that lay all but forgotten, now behind him.
Now the others in the group came closer to listen. They stopped their preparations for camp to focus on Alydon. "The young girl will speak with the Daleks. And the message will come from the city," he announced.
"Direct from the girl?" Temmosus asked.
"Yes," answered Alydon.
Temmosus looked up at him curiously. "And how shall we know it is not a trick?" he asked.
"Well, she told me her name," Alydon answered. "Susan," he announced to the small group. "And that is how the message is to be signed," he explained. He looked down to where Temmosus sat and leaned a little closer. "Otherwise," he continued, "we shall know the Daleks are hostile to us." He face became grim at the possibility.
Back in the underground control room Susan sat in a high-back chair and nervously chewed on her fingernails. The chair was abnormally large and had little circular knobs at the top two corners of it. Sitting so small in the seat made her feel like a small child once again. She was looking down at the table before her and was concentrating hard on it. Her face was still a little dirty from her previous adventure out to get the medication for the others and her hair rumpled.
"…have liquid foods, water in abundance," the voice of a Dalek was telling her. Susan quickly scribbled furiously on the thin sheet of metal before her with her other hand, trying to keep up. There were four Daleks in the room surrounding her, watching as she wrote. "We can also supply… unlimited quantities of fresh vegetables which are forged in artificial sunlight," the Dalek continued.
"Just a minute," Susan called out, trying to write. Releasing her poor nails, she brought her hand up to start tugging on her hair. "Artificial…. sunlight…" she slowly repeated as she wrote. "All right, go on," she prompted, bringing her hand down to hold the metal paper in place.
The same Dalek began speaking again. "In return, we shall expect the Thals to help us in the re-cultivation of the land surrounding the…" Susan stopped writing and looked up at the Dalek.
The second Dalek glided forward. "Why have you stopped writing?" it demanded. Susan fiddled with the stylus used to impress the message on the metal.
"Well, I can only ask them," she said nervously, "I can't accept for them."
"Then put down that we expect them to help us," the first Dalek continued as if there were no interruption.
Susan looked down at the metal sheet then up to the Dalek. "Yes, I'm sure they will," she said, before scribbling away again. Writing furiously her body rocked back and forth some with the effort she put into it. She then signed her name with a flourish.
"Please sit still while we examine what you've written," the first Dalek told her. The message floated up into the air off of the table and flew to the Dalek. It attached itself to the waiting plunger. With a pop it applied suction and it remained in air as Susan jumped back a moment. Turning, the Dalek presented the message to its brother beside it to examine as Susan watched them nervously.
The eyepiece swiveled to look at Susan. "What is the last word here?" it asked.
"The last word?" Susan asked, confused.
"Su…san," it sounded out the word. Susan burst into giggles at how incorrect the pronouncing of her name was. She had not been aware that her name could even be so mispronounced. "Stop that noise," the Dalek commanded. Susan stifled her giggles and brought a hand up to her throat in momentary fear.
"Well, it-it's what I'm called," she told them, folding her arms to rest on the table. "It's my name," she explained, leaning forward. "Susan," she said.
"Have you told the Thals that you would write this name on the message?" the Dalek asked.
Susan nodded vigorously and gave assent. "Look, there's no need to be frightened of them," she told the Daleks. "They're very friendly people. All they want is food," she assured them. "Let me take the message to them," she asked.
"No," the Dalek answered.
"Well, why not?" she asked.
"We have planned otherwise," the first Dalek spoke up.
One of the screens along in the machinery along the wall came to life. It revealed a look into the cell where the others were being held. The second Dalek glided over to it. "But how long are they going to keep Susan, Doctor?" Ian's voice rang out.
"What do they want with her?" Barbara's voice chimed in.
"Perhaps they're going to let us go. I don't know," the Doctor put in. One of the Daleks turned and glided closer to the screen to watch. After a moment of silence the Dalek reached out and twisted a knob shutting the screen off.
From where she sat, Susan watched the screen. "We knew you could hear us 'cause you knew about the Thals and the food," she told the surrounding Daleks smartly with a proud grin. Settling herself to sit straighter she smiled at the one turning from the screen.
"It does not matter," it told her. "We have the message, now," it replied. The Dalek behind her nudged her shoulder with its plunger-like arm, startling her.
Back in the room, Ian carefully stood beside a small protrusion from one of the walls, mindful to not be in front of it. It was a small device, merely a small cone coming out from a small circular base. It had dark stripes running the length of the cone. At the end there was no point, but instead a small hole. While feeling better from the medicine, a sheen of sweat still covered his face. His tie hung loosely from his neck with his collar loose. "All set now, Doctor?" he whispered. Turning towards the cone, he raised his voice. "The whole pattern of things is suspicious," the thundered out. He then started walking away from the wall and walked to stand beside Barbara by the door. "Just because the Daleks didn't kill us is no reason to trust them," he said in a loud voice. Beside him Barbara nervously bit her lower lip and shifted on her feet.
"Or suspect them, either," the Doctor countered, also in a loud voice.
"Or maybe they just have a different way of doing things," Barbara's voice spoke, much louder than usual.
Ian turned to her sharply. "The Thals have helped us. If there had only been one supply of the anti-radiation drug, would the Daleks have given us any? The Daleks put us in a cell," he said. "I know which of the two I prefer," he told her with exaggerated hand gestures about them.
The Doctor then stood from his spot on the bench and began to pace about the room. "I tell you, the Daleks are brilliant people. I think we ought to cooperate with them," he said. The Doctor then came to a stop in the middle of the room and folded his hands together before him.
"Ever since you talked alone to the Daleks, you've been on their side," Ian seemingly erupted, coming over to tower over the old man. "What have they done, bribed you or something?" he demanded, looking down to the Doctor. The old man's eyes darted about the room. Grabbing the Doctor by his upper arms Ian spun them around to now be the one facing the cone and shook him. "Look I want to know why. Why are you on their side and against the rest of us?" he shouted.
"Take your hands off me," the Doctor cried out. "How dare you shout…" the old man continued shifting away from Ian.
"I want an answer," Ian persisted, following the Doctor's movements.
"You leave my grandfather alone," Susan cried out, leaping onto Ian's back. Screaming and swatting at Ian's head they all scuffled together a few moments.
Barbara joined the fray and tried pulling everyone apart. "Please, stop arguing," she pleaded.
"Give me space," the Doctor demanded.
All together they scuffled about the room. Barbara, using her strength, was able to pull Ian and the Doctor apart and she shoved the old man away from the group to avoid any injury. On Ian's back Susan continued screaming and kicking and swatting at him. Now away from the Doctor, Ian stumbled around trying to get Susan off of him. Barbara grabbed at the girl, trying to pry her off. "Susan, what are you doing?" she cried out. The group stumbled into the wall together. Looking as if she sought leverage, Susan grabbed onto the protrusion and pulled hard, shifting her weight in what seemed an attempt to try to knee Ian's face. The force of the pull caused the device to come out of the wall, yanking the wires behind it out as well.
The screen in the control room showing the cell blinked out. The shouting continued only a moment longer before being replaced by static, then silence.
Barbara examined the wires coming from the new hole in the wall, making sure each was completely severed. At her feet Ian helped Susan back up to her feet from where together they fell over. "Did I hurt you?" Ian asked the girl in concern. He glanced over her quickly checking for winces or any faltering as she stood.
"Oh, no, of course you didn't," Susan replied. She giggled as they stood. Such an act had been much more entertaining than she had expected it to be.
"Stop wasting time," the Doctor's stern voice reprimanded them as he came to join the group.
Ian grabbed the device they plucked from the wall and couldn't stop a stupid grin from growing on his face. "Fix you for a while," he quietly told the piece, examining it. He glanced up to Barbara and his grin grew wider.
Two Daleks examined the blank screen and fiddled with the knobs and dials below it side by side. Together they played back the last of the footage critically and again fiddled with the mechanisms. "Do you think it was broken accidentally in their struggle?" one of them asked the other.
"No," the other replied quickly. "The cable is strong. I think they have broken it deliberately. Amusing. And instructive. Our visitors are not to be underestimated," it said. As it spoke a third Dalek entered the room and glided over to join them. Both quickly turned to the newcomer.
Seemingly already aware of the situation, it spoke, "They can be moved immediately to another room and the eye repaired."
"No," the second Dalek spoke up again, shooting the idea down.
The first Dalek swiveled to look at the second. "Extermination, then?" it asked.
Both of the other Daleks turned to look at the first in silence for a moment. They then turned to glance at one another. "There is no escape from the room that holds them," the second Dalek began. "They may be useful again," its brother continued. "We should deal with the Thals, first," it again spoke and concluded.
The Doctor stood before the group in their cell confidently as if acting like a chairman before a board. His face set in determination with his brows knit and his mouth firm. "The point is, how to we get out of here?" he asked, waving his arm about them. "Do we wait until the Daleks open the door and force the issue? Hm?" he then pointed at Barbara in question.
"But we'd never get near enough to them to cause damage," she thought aloud.
From the other side of the room Susan nodded. "We must try to trick them," she said, raising her hand to her chin. "We must all pretend to be dead," she started, trying to come up with a plan. "Then, when they come to investigate, we must rush down the corridor…" she continued, getting worked up.
"Yes, and then what?" Ian interrupted her, drawing everyone's attention. "No," he shot down Susan's suggestion. "We must find a way of putting these machines out of action," he told them.
"Yes, remember what they did to your legs," Barbara agreed. She nodded apologetically to Susan.
The Doctor looked down in thought. He rocked back and forth on his heels and tapped his feet a bit. Then he paused. He tapped his toes again on the floor. Tapping his toes again he scrutinized the floor. "The floors are metal," he announced. The others glanced down. "All the floors are metal," he told them, moving about the room, pointing at the ground.
"What of it?" Ian asked disinterestedly.
The Doctor shot him a reproachful look. "Chesterton, your total lack of imagination appalls me. When I remember that you were a schoolmaster, it makes me glad you are now here. Here you can no longer influence the minds of those poor unsuspecting children who were your pupils," the Doctor barbed at him.
"It's these little displays of charm that make you so endearing, Doctor," Ian replied.
"And so are the streets of the city outside," Barbara spoke up, referring back to the metal floors.
The Doctor smiled brilliantly at her words and pointed to her. "But why?" he asked her directly. Beside him Ian looked at her in confusion.
"Well, I-I don't know," she admitted, embarrassed.
"No, I know you don't know," the Doctor cut in. "I mean, why do you think they used metal?" he asked the group. "Is it because it lasts longer? Or because…" he raised his hands in a baffled kind of manner and trailed off.
Ian's face lit up. "It must be essential to them! That's an idea," he quickly spoke up.
Susan walked over to stand with the group. "Well, how is that going to help us?" she asked Ian, confused.
"Well, if metal is…" he excitedly began to answer.
"No, no, no, listen," the Doctor interrupted Ian, reaching out to poke his shoulder. He waved his other hand a bit as if waving Ian's words themselves away. "Let's concentrate on the Daleks," he said. "Have you noticed, for example, that when you move about, there's a sort of acrid smell?" he asked the group, bringing his hands to his chest excitedly.
Barbara sniffed the air. "Yes, yes, I've noticed that," Susan spoke up, catching her grandfather's excitement.
"I know, a fairground," Barbara spoke up. The others looked at her in confusion. "That's where I've smelled this before," she explained. A slight blush crossed her cheeks and she glanced away.
"That's it," Ian cried out again catching the excitement. "Dodgems."
"It's electricity," the Doctor agreed. "I think they're powered that way," the Doctor pointed before them to emphasize his words.
Ian nodded and began to pace some. "Yes, now just a minute," he said. "They have no pick-up or anything. And only the base of the machine touches the floor," he thought out loud. Raising a hand up to his hair he scratched his head and looked about them. "How do they complete the circuit?" he wondered.
"Batteries?" Susan suggested.
"No, no, no," the Doctor spoke up. "I believe that the Daleks have discovered a way to exploit static electricity," he told them. He then crouched down to feel the metal floors. Barbara crouched down beside him. "Very ingenious, if I'm right," he mused.
"What, drawing power through the floor?" asked Barbara glancing to the old man. On his other side, Susan crouched down and began to feel about the floor.
"Precisely. If I'm right, of course," the Doctor replied. "Now," he began as he stood back up. "What do we know apart from guessing how they are powered?" he asked the group. "Hmm?"
Susan quickly spoke up, "Well, they can see all around them." Her grandfather smiled at her.
"Yes," Barbara agreed, standing up. "Their eye is flexible. Like a large camera lens."
The Doctor beamed at her. "Yes, yes, yes. Now, Chesterton, do you mind concentrating, young man?" the Doctor admonished, looking at where Ian was crouched, concentrating on the floor.
"Hm?" Ian asked, glancing up at the Doctor. Ignoring the old man, he then glanced over to the girl in the room. "Susan," he addressed her, "that cloak the Thals gave you…." He glanced about a moment trying to find it. With a sigh, Susan pointed to where it lay just behind him. Ian reached back and grabbed it, pulling it before him to look over. "Barbara, come here," he asked, spreading it on the floor. Quietly Barbara stepped over to him and crouched beside him and took a hold of the fabric. "What do you think this is made of?" he asked her.
Smoothing the fabric between her fingertips, Barbara frowned at the cloth. "I'm not sure," she said. "It certainly isn't a kind of plastic," she mused. Gently she scraped her nail over the threads, "I don't think it's nylon, either." Susan and the Doctor came over and crouched down to feel the cloth as well.
"Well, whatever it is, it will do for what we want," Ian announced, to the confusion of the others.
Inspecting the cloth carefully from behind his glasses, the Doctor tried to analyze the fabric. "And what will it do, young man, hm?" he asked.
Ian looked up to the old man. "Insulate," he said. The others glanced over to Ian. "If you're right, Doctor, about the Daleks taking up power from the floor, this is a perfect way of putting them out of action," he explained.
Out in the forest, Dyoni watched as two men carried in a large petrified beast, metal and reptilian, into the camp. She had a cloak wrapped about her shoulders. Rather than a tortoise-like camouflage pattern hers sported vertical stripes along the length of it. Watching them pass by, she marveled at the beast they carried, and let her eyes follow them towards the tents. Turning back to where she was headed her face lit up in recognition.
"Oh, look Ganatus! They've found a Magneton under some bushes," she excitedly told him.
Walking into the clearing, Ganatus glanced about curiously. "Dead, I hope," he deadpanned. He, too, sported a cloak. His cloak was identical to the one Susan now carried.
"Well, of course it's dead," Dyoni replied as if speaking to a child. She looked as if she were about to continue when Ganatus chuckled. His wide grin suggested he was never serious. "Oh, you," she admonished, giving his chest a small shove. "I never know when you're serious and when you're joking," she said.
Smiling he chuckled again at her frustration. "Then we'll be able to recharge the headlights. I'll go and tell Antodus," he said, returning the conversation to the beast. He started to take a couple of steps out towards the encampment.
"Is he still afraid of the dark?" Dyoni asked, calling out to him. Her voice was soft and concerned. Ganatus jerked to a stop suddenly and turned back to her tensely. "I'm sorry," she said softly, glancing down.
"My brother isn't afraid of anything," Ganatus said tartly. Not giving her time to reply to that, he began walking again and stomped off. Once in camp, he stomped past Alydon and all but flung himself into one of the tents.
Alydon, oblivious to the tense situation, stood near the edge of the camp. Feet standing wide, he had his arms crossed with a hand to his chin. The others behind him paid no mind and continued their day to day activities, but he continued to stare out into the forest. Finally he turned and glanced over the faces until he found the one he sought. "Temmosus, suppose the Daleks refuse to help us," he began, moving to stand beside where their leader sat. "What then," he asked.
"I believe the Daleks hold the key to our future," the man replied. "Whatever that future may be, we must accept it gracefully and without regret," Temmosus said lightly.
Alydon looked away. "I wish I could be as objective as you," he admitted, "we've lived for so long a time."
"Perhaps we have lived for too long, and merely avoided our destiny," Temmosus interrupted him. Alydon turned back to him in shock. "I never struggle against the inevitable; it's a vain occupation. Our race should have perished when the bombs came" he continued. "Our survival was a mistake. Without their help, that mistake will soon be rectified."
Their conversation was cut off as two young men hurried into camp and over to them, drawing much attention. They held a large piece of thin metal and presented it to Temmosus. "This was found at the city gates," they explained. Temmosus accepted the sheet metal and looked it over.
"Well what does it say?" Alydon asked him anxiously. Much of the group of travelers came over to hear the news. Dyoni came to stand beside Alydon as Ganatus came and stood beside Temmosus, glancing over the man's shoulder at the paper.
"They're going to help us," Temmosus announced to the small crowd who had gathered at the commotion. "It's signed by the girl, Susan," he added, looking back to the paper. "She says, 'The Dalek people have no malice towards us. They hope that they can work with us to build a new and safe world, free from the fear of war.'" He excitedly looked to the people. Alydon took hold of Dyoni's arm and smiled at her. "They have the ability to produce food by means of synthetic sunlight," Temmosus continued, looking back to the paper, "and they have left a quantity of it for us in the entrance hall of their main building. We are to collect it tomorrow." The crowd erupted into excited murmurs and happy exclamations. "Perhaps we're going to cheat destiny yet," Temmosus wondered. Only Ganatus continued having a serious expression.
Susan had pressed herself flat against the closed door. Her ear against the metal carefully listened for any noise. Starting some, she loudly shushed the silent group behind her. "He's coming," she whispered. She continued to listen at the door for the approach.
"Yes. Now, all of you, watch very carefully," the Doctor instructed. Ian stood to the side of the door as Barbara lay on her stomach on the floor seemingly in a relaxed manner. "See that you notice every detail in that machine, all right?" the Doctor continued. Susan then moved to the other side of the door. As the door began to open, the Doctor sat upon the bench.
As the door opened, it revealed the approaching Dalek carrying a tray of food and water. It stopped just at the entrance. Swiveling its eyepiece about the group, it focused on each person. The lights upon its head flashed at random as if with annoyance. "Move back from the door," it commanded. The eye fixture looked from Susan to Ian and back as they backed into the room. The Dalek did not enter the room, it continued to stay just in the entrance. "Take the food," it instructed. Susan stepped forward and retrieved the dishes off the tray before presenting on to her grandfather. They all carefully watched as it backed out of the room and the door slid closed.
Once the door slid shut fully Barbara stood up and the group gathered around the Doctor. They all glanced to the door to make sure it was stilled closed before they dared to speak.
"I'll be able to jam the door with a piece of this," Ian said, pulling out the broken camera cone from behind him.
Susan spun back to her grandfather. "He seemed to be able to cover all of us," she told him anxiously.
"It'd be very difficult to hide from it," Barbara agreed.
"Yes," Ian hummed. "Perhaps we can throw a coat over the lens," he proposed.
Barbara turned to look at him. "Surely it would see you," she countered.
"Yes," Ian relented. He then stepped around to stand before where the Doctor sat on the bench. "Doctor, perhaps we can stage something." He rested his foot on the bench and leaned forward on his knee. "You know, a distraction. And when the lens looks the other way, throw something over it," he suggested.
"Hmm," the Doctor replied, thinking over it. "Yes, yes, yes," the Doctor hummed as he thought.
Barbara glanced over to Susan who was sitting down atop the cloak. The girl took off her shoes to keep the cloak from getting dirty. "Now, wait a minute," Barbara said. "Susan, throw me your shoes," she called over to the girl. Susan tossed them over and watched closely as Barbara flipped them over and examined the bottoms of them.
"What are you up to?" Ian asked, watching as Barbara picked off clumps of dirt from the shoes. She dropped the clods of dirt into the bowl of water next to her on the bench.
"Making mud," she replied.
A little while later the Doctor stood and glanced at his pocket watch. "If he's on time, we have three minutes," he told the group. Before him Barbara was working with a mound of thick mud between her hands. She glanced over to Ian beside her as he carefully worked with a piece from the broken camera cone.
"I'm ready," Ian announced, breaking the last remnants of the wires from a part of it. He then moved over to one side of the door. On the other side Susan sat atop the cloak.
The Doctor stepped closer to Barbara. "How's the mud?" he asked her teeming with pride and excitement.
"It's very sticky and very nasty," she told him, still working it between her hands.
The old man took hold of her arms in a half hug sort of gesture and smiled at her. "Very good. Very good idea," he told her proudly.
"Should I spread out the cloak now?" Susan asked, getting up from where she sat.
"Yes," the Doctor answered, letting go of Barbara to turn to Susan. "But not too close to the door. We don't want to make him suspicious," he told her.
Susan moved closer to him and pointed to the ground. "Just down there?" she asked.
"Yes, yes, quickly," the old man instructed. Susan spread the cloth down across the floor. "Good, child," the Doctor praised.
Behind them by the door, Ian laid down beside the opening, ready to jam the piece in at any time. "He's coming," Ian announced to them. Susan sat atop the cloak.
"Mind your head," the Doctor instructed.
Ian glanced over to Barbara, still working with the mud as she nervously paced. Hearing the door begin to open he placed the piece of camera in the corner and quickly rolled away from the door. Barbara turned and kept her back to the door where the Dalek couldn't see her working the mud.
The Dalek slid into the room with another tray. Upon the tray sat another plate of food for the group. The same, colorless, tasteless food they had been receiving since they were first imprisoned. "Take this," it instructed. Susan stood from the cloak and approached the Dalek. Taking the plate of food from the tray, she brought it over to the men. Barbara carefully walked over to the side of the Dalek to stand at the side of the door.
The group were all tense as they watched the Dalek back out of the room and the door began to close. Ian stood and they all watched, entranced as the door caught on the piece of metal and started going back and forth. A loud shrill beeping filled the air momentarily. The door opened back up and the Dalek came back into the room, looking at the doorway curiously.
"Now!" cried out the Doctor.
Barbara leapt at the Dalek and stuck the mud onto the eyepiece. The plunger apparatus knocked her down onto her back as the Doctor and Ian ran at the creature. The two of them grabbed hold of the Dalek and dragged it further into the room.
"Keep away from me. Keep away. Keep away!" the Dalek cried out. Blindly it lashed out, spinning around as it moved its arms about. It continued spinning, trying to find anything to strike.
"That's a gun! That's a gun!" the Doctor shouted in warning of the metal arms as he jumped onto the back of the Dalek. Ian grappled with the plunger arm and kept it from pointing towards the girls.
"Keep away from me," the Dalek continued to yell out shrilly over and over, not stopping. Feeling Ian beneath the plunger, it drove him back against the wall and pinned him back. As Ian gasped and struggled, the girls slid the cloak under the Dalek.
Immediately the systems seemed to shut down from the Dalek. The power stopped and it stopped moving entirely. Ian slid down to the floor and Barbara hurried over to him. "Ian, are you all right?" He nodded with a couple more gasps.
The Doctor and Susan examined the Dalek from each side. "Are you all right, Susan?" he asked the girl.
"Yes, grandfather," Susan replied.
Barbara helped drag Ian over to the Dalek and stand him back up on his feet. "I think I'm all right," he told her. "Swing it around," he said, looking at the machine before them.
"Splendid, splendid," the Doctor said still running his hands over the surface. Together they all were able to push the Dalek towards the center of the room.
"Keep out of the way, Susan," Ian called out over the Dalek. "I think it's worked, you can take your hand off the gun," Ian called over the Dalek's head to Barbara who loosely took hold of the arms in fear of deception after another few moments of the Dalek not moving. Letting out a breath of relief, Barbara let go of the whisk-shaped arm.
Together they all looked over the Dalek. "There must be a latch somewhere on here," Ian said, feeling around the domed head. "Aha, found it," he cried out. With the Doctor's help the two men were able to lift the head piece up. Immediately they closed the lid back down and glanced at one another, their faces stoic. "Susan, Barbara," Ian addressed. He closed his eyes a moment and swallowed. "Why don't you go to the corridor and keep a look out?" he suggested, not looking at either of them.
"Yes," agreed Barbara dusting herself off. Together with Susan, she guided the two of them out of the room into the narrow hallway.
Both Ian and the Doctor firmly held the casing closed until the girls were down the hallway. "You'll have to help me," Ian whispered to the old man. Glancing behind them he saw the girls watching around the next corner. The Doctor nodded. Together they carefully opened the lid of the Dalek and looked inside. A quiet, yet frantic, half-squawking and half-squelching noise came from inside. The men spared a glance at each other and Ian nodded. "Let's run it off the cloak," Ian suggested. After a short struggle the two managed to free the cloak and the Doctor gathered the cloth as Ian held the machine still. "Yes, that's it," Ian encouraged.
Grabbing the cloak from where it lay, the Doctor pushed it into the Dalek's innards. Working with Ian, they used the cloak to wrap and bundle something together that seemed to struggle from under the cloth.
"Alright now," Ian encouraged, tucking his end of the cloak under the bundle inside the machine. The Doctor did the same on his end. "Lift," Ian instructed.
With a grunt, they lifted the thing up and out of the Dalek. Ian watched as the Doctor took charge of the bundle and carried it away from the mechanical husk. As the Doctor set the bundle down Ian glanced again out into the hallway to see the girls studiously watching the path.
Eyes wide, the Doctor came to stand beside Ian. He ran a hand through his hair, half in exhaustion, half in an attempt to tame the wild mass mussed in the fray. Almost absently he rested his hands on the rim of the opened Dalek and let out a breath.
"Now," Ian began, "let's see if I can get inside it." Gripping the open head, he pushed the lid a little further open and gauged the contraption. As if suddenly remembering them, Ian looked back out towards the girls. "All clear in the corridor?" he asked.
"Yes," they replied simultaneously. Together the girls kept watch down the hallway glancing about.
Susan's eyes nervously jumped about while Barbara's carefully scanned back and forth. The young girl chanced a glance up to her teacher before her gaze darted back before them. "I think there's a sentry down at the other end of the corridor," she told Barbara, trying to keep her voice from shaking. Trying very hard to remember the layout of the hallways, Susan was terrified.
Barbara considered the possibility. Surely a sentry would get curious if it took too long to just deliver food. Could the noise from the fight have made it down the hallway? "We've made such a noise, too," she quietly mused aloud. How much longer did they have? Without taking her eyes off the halls, she quietly called back towards the room, "Ian, hurry."
Back inside the room, Ian was crouched down inside of the Dalek machine. His head poked out over the rim of the opening and he considered how much room he had under the dome. The Doctor was holding the domed head struggling to keep from slamming down in the case Ian didn't fit.
"Not much room for my legs," Ian told the Doctor, "let's try the top." He reached out to brace the lid from the inside, the cold metal a bit of a shock to his hand. Still high on the adrenaline rush the blood was still coursing through him keeping him quite flushed.
The Doctor adjusted his hold on the lid. "Barbara, Susan," he called out, "give me a hand." As the girls hurried over and helped take hold of the lid, Ian ducked his head down some. "Gently. Put it down gently," the Doctor instructed. Together they settled the lid closed. "How is it?" he asked, leaning close to hear for Ian's response.
Instead of Ian's voice, the group was relieved to hear the familiar computerized speaker they had grown used to. "It's very cramped, indeed," the speakers boomed. The speaker, however, did not disguise the tone used by Ian.
"Well can't you sound more like a Dalek?" the Doctor asked.
"Yes," Barbara encouraged. She leaned close to the domed head, unsure how well he could hear. "Try to be more monotone," she told him.
There was a moment of silence before the speaker started up again. "Do you mean like this?" Ian asked, careful to keep any inflections out of his voice. Susan giggled uncontrollably and everyone let out a breath of relief.
"Yes," Susan replied. "Can you see alright?" she asked.
"No," Ian replied from inside the Dalek, "there's some sort of screen and it's-Oh, it's the mud. Clear off the mud."
Reaching for the eyepiece, Barbara carefully pulled the mud from the lens. Susan pulled out a handkerchief and wiped off any bits that remained. "Is that better," Susan asked.
"Ah, yes," Ian said, relief in his voice. Having set the mud down, Barbara brushed her palms clean again. "I just can't get this to move. There's so many controls," he bemoaned.
"Oh don't worry," the Doctor chimed in, "we'll push you." Together he and the girls took hold of the machine and started maneuvering it around the room.
As the group starting rolling the machine a few steps in each direction they tried to get their bearings. "Oh," Ian exclaimed from inside the machine, "it moves well enough." With some effort they got a better handle on moving it around and they turned it about to go through the doorway.
Helping the Doctor push from behind as Susan pulled, Barbara had a moment of worry. "Surely they'll know we're pushing it," she said.
"Oh nonsense. It won't be suspicious at all," the Doctor reassured her most assuredly. Still doubtful, Barbara continued to help push the Dalek into the hallway.
The group made their way around the first bend of the hallway. Each tired and shining from sweat, they paused a moment to catch their breath from the strain of pushing the machine. "Alright," Ian's voice came out again. "Susan, Barbara, you get in front and pretend I'm taking you for questioning," he continued.
Letting go from the metal, the girls moved to stand in front of the group, agreeing to the plan. Now alone behind the Dalek, the Doctor looked down at the machine incredulously. Closing his eyes a moment in exasperation he again brought his hands up to rest on the Dalek so he could try to push.
"And Susan," Ian called out again.
"Yes?" Susan asked, turning around to face the group.
"You lead us. You know the way," he instructed.
Turning back to face forwards, Susan glanced about the hallway before them carefully. Barbara came to stand beside her and cast a wary eye down each way. Still alone behind the Dalek, the Doctor dug his heels in to better shove at the machine. Susan took a step forward. "All right," she said to the group behind her, "This way, then."
Back in the room, the bundle on the floor continued to struggle from beneath Alydon's cloak.