A/N: Quick question, are you guys watching the new episode of Doctor Who? And if so, is anyone else picking up on the subtle hints towards Rose? Or is it just me? Anyways, back to my usual A/N... Thank you so so much to my followers, those who have favorited, and those of you who have reviewed! Love you all. I hope you all enjoy this next chapter :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or anything related. That goes to the BBC. *Some lines below are borrowed from the episode Daleks in Manhattan. Credit for those lines belong to their respective writers.*


After the blonde led them to her dressing room, the group figured out quickly that they had made their way inside the prop room of a theatre. The three time travelers plus Solomon watched the blonde cautiously , as she waved the revolver around while explaining who Laszlo was. "Laszlo's my boyfriend. Or was my boyfriend until he disappeared two weeks ago. No letter, no goodbye, no nothing. And I'm not stupid. I know some guys are just pigs but not my Laszlo. I mean, what kind of guy asks you to meet his mother before he vamooses?"

"Yeah. It might, might just help if you put that down," the Doctor told her carefully.

She looked at him confused. "Huh? Oh, sure." She threw the gun down and gave a small laugh when they all flinched. "Oh, come on. It's not real. It's just a prop. It was either that or a spear."

Martha stepped forward. "What do you think happened to Laszlo?"

"I wish I knew. One minute he's there, the next, zip. Vanished."

"Listen, ah, what's your name?" the Doctor asked the blonde.

"Tallulah."

"Tallulah,"

"Three Ls and an H," she clarified.

The Doctor had to suppress a grin. In other circumstances, he would very much like to converse with Tallulah but right now he needed to focus on the task at hand. "Right. We can try to find Laszlo, but he's not the only one. There are people disappearing every night."

"And there are creatures." Solomon shuddered. "Such creatures."

Rose shot the man a dirty look. "Yeah, and you just let 'em have Frank."

"What do you mean, creatures?" Tallulah interrupted before Solomon could snap back.

"Look, listen, just trust me. Everyone is in danger. I need to find out exactly what this is." The Doctor pulled the green jellyfish type creature he had found in the sewers out of his pocket. "Because then I'll know exactly what we're fighting."

Tallulah shrunk back and made a face. "Yech."

"Seriously?" Rose swatted his shoulder. "That jacket is gonna need a thorough wash after having that thing in it's pocket."

"I'm going to head back to the prop room, see if I can find anything that might help me figure out what this thing is," he told them all.

"Hey, I need to start getting read for my next show. You girls want to stay and chat?" Tallulah asked hopefully.

Martha readily agreed but Rose seemed a bit unsure. After seeing her reluctance, the Doctor pulled her aside. "Stay and talk to her for a bit. See if she gives us any more useful information." Rose nodded as the Doctor and Solomon left the ladies.


After changing into her angel costume, Tallulah sat at her makeup table and began fixing her earrings. "Laszlo. He'd wait for me after the show. Walk me home like I was a lady. He'd leave a flower for me on my dressing table. Every day, just a single rose bud."

"He sounds really sweet," Rose told her as she took a seat next to the other blonde.

"Oh he was!"

Martha stood from where she was sitting. "Haven't you reported him missing?"

"Sure. He's just a stagehand. Who cares? The management certainly don't."

"Can't you kick up a fuss or something?"

"Okay, so then they fire me."

Martha bent down and grinned at Tallulah's reflection in the mirror. "But they'd listen to you. You're one of the stars."

"Oh, honey, I got one song in a back street revue and that's only because Heidi Chicane broke her ankle. Which had nothing to do with me whatever anybody says. I can't afford to make a fuss. If I don't make this month's rent, then before you know it, I'm in Hooverville."

"Okay! I get it," she backed down.

"It's the Depression, sweetie. Your heart might break, but the show goes on. Because if it stops, you starve." Tallulah stood and looked sadly at Martha. "Every night I have to go out there, sing, dance, keep going, hoping he's going to come back." Her voice dissolved into tears as Martha flung her arms around her.

"I'm sorry."

"Me too, Tallulah." Rose spoke up. "I promise we're going to try our best to help you find him."

The blonde pulled out of the embrace and turned to look at her. "That's real nice of you. You know, you're lucky. You got yourself a forward thinking guy with that hot potato in the sharp suit."

Rose blushed. "Oh, the Doctor and I aren't like that."

Tallulah giggled. "Oh, sure you are! I've seen the way you look at him. It's obvious."

"Really, Rose. You two aren't foolin' anyone. I've been with you two for a few days. There's no hiding it," Martha told her.

Rose shook her head to deny them. "Seriously, though, the Doctor... he's doesn't-"

Tallulah interrupted as she moved to put her angel wings on. "Oh, I should have realized. He's into musical theatre, huh? What a waste. Still, you got to live in hope. It's the only thing that's kept me going because, well, look." She held up a single white rose bud. "On my dressing table every day still."

"You think it's Laszlo?" Martha asked.

"I don't know," she admitted sadly. "If he's still around, why is he being all secret, like he doesn't want me to see him?" Tallulah moved into the hall to as some more showgirls made their way towards them. "Girls, it's show time!" She turned back to look at Martha and Rose. "Come on, honeys. Take a look. Ever been on stage before?"

Martha shrugged. "Oh, a little bit. You know, Shakespeare."

Rose laughed as the other blonde stated, "How dull is that? Come and see a real show!"

She began pulling them with her wen Rose stopped them. "I just want to check on the Doctor first, I'll meet up with you though!"


A few minutes later she tracked him down in the lighting gallery he was on his stomach examining the "creature" they had found. "So where's Solomon?" she asked as she sat next to him

"Went back to Hooverville, wanted to warn them all," he answered without looking up. "I think he was feeling particularly guilty after you laid into him earlier."

"And what?" Rose snapped. "You want me to feel bad about that? Cause I don't."

"This is artificial," the Doctor muttered as he made a few adjustment to the device had he had cobbled together. "Genetically engineered. Whoever this is, oh, you're clever."

Rose just sighed as the lights lowered and the show began. "So what have you made there?" She nodded to the machine.

"Just a crude little DNA scan," he informed her. "Not perfect, but it will get the job done." He dug through one of his pockets and pulled his stethoscope out. "Fundamental DNA type four six seven dash nine eight nine. Nine eight nine," he repeated after listening to the luminous creature. He lifted his glasses to rub his eyes. "Hold on, that means planet of origin... "

Rose watched as the color drained from his face. "Where, Doctor? Where's this thing from?"

"Skaro," he answered briefly before grabbing her hand and pulling her up roughly.

"Hold on! I know that name... Doctor, why do I know that name?" Rose asked breathlessly as the Doctor continued tugging her behind him as he ran.

"Come on, Rose!" He yelled, ignoring her question, while pulling her arm harder as they made their way backstage. They finally saw Tallulah surrounded by her showgirls. The Doctor let go of Rose and grabbed the other blonde's shoulders. "Where is she? Where's Martha?"

Tallulah shook her head and told him, "I don't know. She ran off the stage."

Rose pulled the him away from the showgirls, "Doctor what is-"

The sound of a woman's scream interrupted. Without a word the pair took off running towards the sound, only to be followed by Tallulah.

"Martha!" the Doctor shouted as he made his way into the prop room. As he made his way further in he noticed the lid to the sewer was not on properly. Having noticed the lid as well Rose grabbed the Doctor's coat off the rack and handed it to him.

"Where are you going?" Tallulah asked as the Doctor began to fully remove the sewer lid.

"They've taken her," was the brief response she got.

"Who's taken her? What're you doing?" When she saw the both the Doctor and Rose were making their way down the ladder she asked once more, "I said, what the hell are you doing?"

"No, no, no, no, no way! You're not coming," the Doctor said to Tallulah, as the showgirl made her way down the ladder as well.

"Tell me what's going on," she demanded.

"There's nothing you can do. Go back!"

Finally Rose had enough. "Actually, Doctor, she's asking a fair question. What is going on?"

Tallulah sent Rose small smile in gratitude before turning her attention back to the Doctor. "Look, whoever's taken Martha, they could've taken Laszlo, couldn't they?"

"Tallulah, you're not safe down here," he warned.

"Then that's my problem. Come on. Which way?" she asked as she began walking down a side tunnel.

The Doctor just sighed in defeat before taking off down the main tunnel. "This way."


"Doctor, why is the name Skaro so familiar?" Rose whisper as the made their way under a portcullis.

Having not heard the whispered question Tallulah asked aloud, "When you say, they've taken her, who's they exactly? And who are you anyway? I never asked."

"Shhh," the Doctor hushed at her.

"Okay, okay," she said loudly.

"Shh, shh, shh, shh!" he directed, holding his hands up.

Rose was trying to figure out what had him on edge, when she finally saw it. A shadow cast on the wall in front of them. Not the shadow of a human, or even a pig man. No. Then it clicked why the name Skaro was so familiar, she had heard that name before. At Canary Wharf. The Cult of Skaro. "No..." Rose whimpered as the Doctor grabbed her arm roughly, threw his hand over a still talking Tallulah's mouth, and then pulled them both tightly into a service alcove.

Rose held her breath as the Dalek slowly made it's way past the alcove without noticing the three people huddled in it. After it was at a somewhat safe distance, the Doctor let go of the two blondes and stepped away. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. They survived. They always survive while I lose-" he stopped when he noticed Rose still huddled in the corner. He moved to her and quickly pulled her into his embrace.

"That metal thing? What was it?" Tallulah asked.

"It's called a Dalek. And it's not just metal, it's alive."

"You're kidding me." She tried for a smile.

"Does it look like I'm kidding?" he spat out at her, causing Rose to flinch. He tried to pull in his anger but feeling the shudders of his companion only made it worse. It was because of them that his always strong Rose was terrified. "Inside that shell is a creature born to hate, whose only thought is to destroy everything and everyone that isn't a Dalek too. It won't stop until it's killed every human being alive."

"But if it's not a human being, that kind of implies it's from outer space," she said nervously as the Doctor just gave her a pointed look. "Yet again, that's a no with the kidding. Boy. Well, what's it doing here, in New York?"

"It's not fair," Rose said quietly, still clinging to the Doctor.

He squeezed her shoulder before reaching for her's and Tallulah's hands. "Come on."

"Where're we going?" Tallulah asked.

"Every second you're down here, you're in danger. I'm taking you back right now." As they rounded the corner they came upon another pig man causing Tallulah to scream. The pig man tried to hide but the Doctor called after him, "Where's Martha? What have you done with her? What have you done with Martha?"

"I didn't take her," he said as he shied away from the Doctor.

The Doctor's anger abated a bit. "Can you remember your name?"

"Don't look at me."

"Do you know where she is?" Tallulah asked, trying to step closer, but was stopped by the pig man.

"Stay back! Don't look at me."

"What happened to you?" the Doctor asked.

"They made me a monster."

"Who did?"

"The masters."

"The Daleks," he corrected. "Why?

"They needed slaves. They needed slaves to steal more people so they created us. Part animal, part human. I escaped before they got my mind, but it was still too late," the pig man told him sadly.

"What happened to Martha?" Rose asked, easing a few steps closer.

"They took her. It's my fault. She was following me."

Tallulah clutched her coat tighter. "Were you in the theatre?

"I never..." he started to lie but then changed his mind. "Yes."

"Why? Why were you there?"

"I never wanted you to see me like this." The pig man looked away shamefully.

"Why me? What I got to do with this? Were you following me? Is that why you were there?" Tallulah took a deep breath, trying to calm her frantic heart.

The pig man turned to face her but remained in the shadows. "Yes," was his simple reply.

Rose gasped, "Oh my god, I know who you are! Tallulah just... look at him. Really look."

The other blonde stepped closer and grabbed his arm when he tried to turn away. She stared him deep in the eyes and it dawned on her who it was. "Laszlo? My Laszlo?" She began to cry. "Oh, what have they done to you?"

The Doctor moved closer. "Laszlo, can you show me where they are?"

"They'll kill you," he warned.

"If I don't stop them, they'll kill everyone."

Laszlo sighed as he took a look at his beloved. "Then follow me."


They finally came upon the tunnel that Martha was being held in. Rose felt a brief moment of joy when she realized Frank was still alive and fully human. They watched as the Daleks spoke of a "final experiment" and something about Dalekanium being in place. When it was confirmed that everything was ready the Daleks began scanning their prisoners. The first man was labeled as "low intelligence" and was carted off to become a pig slave.

"They're divided into two groups," Laszlo explained quietly. "High intelligence and low intelligence. The low intelligence are taken to become pig slaves like me."

"Well, that's not fair!" Tallulah stated loudly before the Doctor shushed her. "You're the smartest guy I ever dated."

"What about those considered high intelligence?" Rose asked.

"They're taken to the laboratory."

"Why? What for?" The Doctor frowned.

"I don't know." Laszlo shook his head. "The masters only call it the Final Experiment."

Rose closed her eyes in relief when both Martha and Frank were scanned and labeled as "superior intelligence." While it was nice to know that they wouldn't become pig men, she began to feel worried about this so called Final Experiment.

As the Daleks began to move closer to the tunnel they were hiding in, the Doctor pushed the other three back. "Look out, they're moving!"

Laszlo took that as a sign that they should make their escape and began to lead Tallulah away, but stopped when he noticed that the Doctor and Rose had stayed where they were. "Doctor! Doctor, quickly!"

"I'm not coming. I've got an idea. You go. Take Rose!" He whispered loudly.

Rose just rolled her eyes. "And you were doing so well," she muttered to herself. "I'm not leaving you," she stated firmly. The Doctor sighed but gave a short nod after noticing that Laszlo had convinced Tallulah to go back. The three watched as the Daleks moved past them, then quickly joined the group of humans following them. Laszlo moved to join the other pig men, while the Doctor fell in line behind Martha. Rose stayed behind him and in front of Frank.

"Just keep walking," the Doctor instructed.

Martha gave a strangled gasp, "Oh, I'm so glad to see you!"

"Yeah, well, you can kiss me later," he told her. "You too, Frank, if you want."

Frank smirked but then said politely, "Well that's awful nice of you, Doctor, but I think I'd rather have a kiss from Rose or Martha."


After making their way into the a laboratory Rose and Frank moved in front of the Doctor and Martha and saw that the black Dalek was shaking. "Dalek Sec is in the final stage of evolution," one of the Daleks reported.

"Scan him. Prepare for birth," was the response given.

"Evolution?" the Doctor said to himself.

Martha nodded to Dalek Sec's shaking form. "What's wrong with old Charlie boy over there?"

"Ask them," he told her.

"What, me? Don't be daft."

"I don't exactly want to get noticed and I think they would recognize Rose. Ask them what's going on."

Martha bravely stepped out of line. "Daleks, I demand to be told. What is this Final Experiment? Report!"

The Daleks turned to face her as one of them informed, "You will bear witness."

"To what?"

"This is the dawn of a new age."

"What does that mean?"

"We are the only four Daleks in existence, so the species must evolve a life outside the shell. The Children of Skaro must walk again," the Dalek speaking to her rolled backwards and turned to face Dalek Sec.

Something was wrong. There was something in Rose's head screaming for her to run away, but she couldn't. It was like she was frozen in her spot. She reached her hand behind her blindly, trusting that the Doctor was still there. A moment later she felt the pressure of his hand in her's. They watched in fascinated horror as Dalek Sec powered down. His casing opened and a biped figure slowly emerged and stood proudly.

"What is it?" Martha gasped.

"I am a human Dalek. I am your future."


Comin Soon: Evolution on the Daleks

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