Chapter 14

I awakened with a stretching yawn and turned my head to the side. My brown eyes met Sec's blue one. He slightly jumped, as though startled. The Human-Dalek was sitting in a chair by the bed I was in. His black satin tie was gone and the top few buttons of his black shirt were undone.

I assessed my situation. I knew that we were in an infirmary of some kind in the Doctor's TARDIS. I was still in the white hospital clothing, but my sling was missing and I could feel that my bandages had been changed. There wasn't a mirror, but I knew I probably looked like hell. After all, who didn't after a life-or-death hostage situation and being shot twice?

I refocused on Sec. He lowered his head and avoided my gaze. I swung my legs around to let them hang off the side of the bed. I gently tipped his head back up so that he was looking at me again. Before he could say anything, I asked, "What did they do to you?"

"They injected several chemicals into me. It felt as though my blood was burning…. Why did you step in front of those bullets?"

"Do you want to logical reason or the emotional reason?" I asked in reply.

"Both."

I nodded and took a deep breath. "Logical: Those guns were aimed at your heart. I am shorter than you, so the bullets wouldn't have hit mine. It was still pretty close though. Emotional: I made a promise that everyone, including you, would get out of there alive. Sec, there is nothing I would not do for a friend. Keep in mind that I don't have very many friends."

"But, I-"

"No," I said firmly. "No more self-depreciation. You are not Dalek Sec." I ran my hand through my hair. "What was the name of the Human who served you?"

"Diagoras."

"Then, from now on, you shall be Sec Diagoras. A Dalek name and a Human name. You're a new man." I smiled and glanced at his clothing. He had probably been wearing the black suit since his transformation. "And a new man needs new clothing attire," I told him.

A confused expression fell upon Sec's face. I got up out of the bed and encouraged, "Come on. Sarah said that there was a wardrobe somewhere on this ship."

Sec followed me as we wandered around the corridors, opening doors and peeking inside. We found the wardrobe about fifteen minutes later. I let out a low whistle upon entering. There were racks upon racks of clothes from different time periods, countries, and even planets.

"I do hope you have some plan of where to start," Sec remarked.

I looked him up and down and nodded. I grabbed his hand and led him to the twenty-first century Earth section, then refined my search to Tibetan clothing. I found what I was looking for. I just couldn't reach it. Stretching was still a bit painful to do.

"Sec, would you get that down for me?" I asked and pointed to the hanging outfit.

Sec reached up and pulled down the attire set. It was tan pants with a beige tunic. "This one?" he inquired.

"Yeah. Go on, try it out," I encouraged.

Sec laid the clothes on the floor before starting to take off his black shirt. I quickly turned around to give him some privacy.

"Why did you turn away?" asked the Human-Dalek.

"Sec, for future reference, don't change your clothes in front of females."

"I am sorry. Is it wrong?"

I resisted the urge to turn back around and take a peek at the shirtless alien man. "It's not wrong exactly. It's just… just not very modest. You'll understand as you experience society."

"Oh," was his response.

I waited until the sound of rustling clothing ceased. "Are you done?" I asked to make sure.

"Yes."

I turned around. "Very nice," I commented. "Now, you'll need something…" I found what I was looking for on a lower rack. I took it off the hangar and handed it to him. It was a brown Jedi-ish robe. He put it on and adjusted it.

I couldn't help but smile. "You look very nice. Handsome, even."

"I do?" was Sec's reply.

A sudden thought came to me. "You've never seen yourself before, have you?"

Sec shook his head. He was already picking up Human gestures.

"Well, I'm sure that there is a mirror around here somewhere."

"Are you certain that you should be exerting so much physical energy with your injuries?" was the Human-Dalek's concerned response.

"I feel fine, as long as I don't stretch my arm. Now, come on," I said, taking his hand.

We quickly found the mirror. When Sec saw his far-off reflection, he slowly stepped forward, entranced. I followed a couple of steps behind him.

"Is this really me… what I look like?"

"Yes. Why? What did you expect?"

"I do not know… something…."

I came up behind him, rested my chin on his shoulder, and held him close against me. "You expected something ugly and horrifying," I stated.

"Yes."

"Well, that's not what you got," I told our reflection. "Believe it or not, you are a very beautiful person, both inside and out."

"But-"

"No, Sec. No more self-depreciation. No matter what anyone else says, you are a beautiful person. I can't tell you about other societies, but most Humans will judge you by your physical appearance. Do not listen to those people, whether they're from Earth, Mars, Alpha Centauri, or the Andromeda Galaxy. Do you understand?"

Sec nodded his head. I released my hold on him. He went over to the chair a few feet away, sat down, and let out a long sigh. Once again, I followed, and sat across from him.

A moment of silence passed before Sec asked, "How do you judge people you do not know, Tegan?"

I leaned forward in my chair until I could touch him. "I judge people by what is in here…" I touched his forehead. "… and by what is in here," I touched the left side of his chest, where his heart was.

A puzzled look fell upon the Human-Dalek's face. "My heart? But there is only blood-"

I explained, "In Human cultures, we see the heart as the center of all our emotions."

"Ah, I see. But, you cannot physically look inside my heart and brain and see what kind of person I am."

I looked into Sec's blue eye. "There is a phrase that I believe in. 'The eyes are the window to the soul.' Eyes are very expressive. Looking into them is how I judge people."

"I understand." After another minute, he let out a frustrated groan. "Things are much more complex now. I am much more complex now. Everything used to be so simple…."

"Would you like to go back to that?"

"No. Not if it means I must go back to what I used to be."

I nodded my head. "Your life is your own now. You don't have orders or pressure from anyone. You're free to be the man you want to be."

Sec raised his head as he digested this statement. "Yes," he replied after a long moment. "I am free."

We were both startled by the knock on one of the clothing racks. Sarah Jane stepped from behind it.

With a smile, she said, "I thought I'd find you both here. Mind you, this room has definitely gotten bigger since I was last in it. Did I interrupt anything?"

Sec and I shook our heads. I said, "Just helping him get in touch with his humanity."

"Where is everyone else?" asked Sec.

"It's been quite a few hours since Harry dropped us off. Bry, Martha, and the Doctor got you two situated before we took off. They're all in the Console Room, asleep, except the Doctor. He decided to release sleeping gas into the room. I woke up first ad decided to check up on you two."

I smiled. "And you knew that we would be here… how?"

"Not many people like to stay in hospital gowns."

"True, that."

Sarah glanced at me, then Sec, then me again. I understood what she implied.

"Sec, do you mind waiting outside for a few minutes?" I asked.

"Did I do something wrong?" asked the Human-Dalek.

"No," I said with a smile. "It's a modesty thing."

"Oh, I'll be outside then," he answered before getting up and going.

"A modesty thing?" Sarah repeated when he was out of earshot.

"I gave him some clothes to change into, and I had to tell him about not getting dressed in front girls and about modesty."

"Sec reminds me of Luke," Sarah commented.

I nodded. "Everything is new to him. I'm sure you didn't tell Sec to leave just so we could talk about him."

"You don't mind if I check your bandages, do you? I'm no doctor, but-"

"I don't mind. Who changed them earlier?"

"Martha. She's training to be a doctor."

"Yeah, she told me that," I replied while ripping open the thin collar and sleeve of my white hospital shirt.

Sarah started gently unpeeling the white bandages. "You didn't tell the Doctor anything I told you, did you?"

"Of course not. You implied that I shouldn't, so I didn't," I responded. When she took a look at the gunshot wound, I asked, "Well, what's the verdict?"

"Yours will definitely heal better than mine did," my friend answered. She rewrapped the bandages, then held up the ripped sides of my sleeves. She said with a mocking glare, "Since you've already expressed your dislike for these clothes, I guess I'll help you get into something else."

"Thank you," I said before getting up and following her.

It wasn't long before Sarah Jane held up a matching black tunic and pants set embroidered with silver from "Vorzyd"

I nodded in approval. "Very nice."

Sarah helped me change into the tunic and pants. We looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Sarah complimented, "I like it. Do you?"

I smiled and nodded. I turned to face her and pulled her into a one0armed hug. "Sarah, I am so glad I met you."

Sarah held me against her with both arms. "I think I've finally figured you out."

"Oh, really?"

"You're like someone took the best bits of the Doctor and the best bits of me, and made a whole new person."

"Should I take that as a compliment?" I teased.

I felt Sarah's smile before she let go of me. Her facial expression turned to seriousness. "Tegan, the Doctor might ask you to join him in his travels."

"Am I not too young to be gallivanting around the galaxy?"

"No. I was only twenty-three. There was an Australian woman named Tegan Jovanka, she was only twenty-one. with her was a fifteen-year-old boy named Adric."

"Well then, I guess I'm not too young. And what about Bry?"

"I must admit, the Doctor wasn't too fond of Harry at first, but soon warmed up to him."

"If he does ask, how should I answer?"

Sarah Jane took a deep breath. "I think… I think you should accept his offer. I know that you would want to, and opportunities like this happen to a rare few people. You should take this opportunity."

There was a light shudder underneath our feet. Sarah said, "We've landed."