CHAPTER 25

The swirling effect and other effects along with the ice cold chill came as they passed through. For some reason it seemed to be taking longer, or so it seemed. They emerged without any problems, except for the chill and they were in a cave. The gate was behind them slightly set into the wall. It was only partially showing. The bottom of the ring was not visible, the symbols anyway. Part of the right side, the symbols, where not visible either. They were behind a rock wall. The rest of it was visible though. It was also apparent from the ground up chunks of rock on the ground that the dial part of the gate had turned recently causing it to break free, at least around the dial section.

"Well maybe we can go home quickly. All we have to do is find the DHD." Ford said looking around.

The cave wasn't all that big. A passage went forward and turned to the right. A passage went to their left and right. The left turned more left and the right turned to the left going up, or so it looked.

"I don't where the DHD would be or where it might be." Carter said seeing it wasn't in sight.

Ford pulled his revolver and walked slowly forward looking through the forward passage. He looked around to corner just seeing a large room several yards away that had more passages.

"It's clear this way, or so it looks."

"I didn't find anything this way." Lara said looking to the right. "It looks to go to an upper room possibly, but I can't really tell unless I go any farther."

"Be careful. Go slowly." Carter said.

Lara went up slowly while Ford looked around on the left side. It had a S curve to it. Lara did go up finding the passageway blocked by rubble. She came down and told them what she found. Carter was looking over the wall in front of the gate seeing part of the wall had a curve in it. It was the DHD from the looks of it. Just part of the edge though. Ford continued around the curve. It led into a room that was down deep below. About twenty feet. A rather large path ran along the wall leading into the room. Another large opening below led to the outside. He could tell from the way to light shone through. Mel came behind him making him jump as she lightly touched his shoulder.

"Aahh! Geez Mel, scared me to death!"

"Sorry Ford. I thought you usually paid more attention and knew I was here." she said a little hurt.

"It's not your fault. I'm just jumpy."

"What for?"

"Something doesn't feel right."

"With you, I've learned nothing feels right."

"Mel. I'm surprised. You made a joke." he said with a chuckle.

"Thanks. I think." she said with a small smile.

"You're right though. I have been taking things too seriously lately. Everywhere we been going I've been jumpy like something's about to happen. Can you stay here a moment? I'm going to go see what's outside."

"Sure. If Sam calls for you, I'll let you know." she said just watching him.

Ford smiled and walked down quickly. Once at the bottom he rushed over and looked. The opening did lead outside, but the opening got smaller. About the size of a semi truck could come through if it weren't for the rubble that was in the way. A small passage went to the right possibly leading outside.

"Hey Carter. I'm going to go look outside. Melissa is at the top of the passage way leading to the left of the Stargate." he said through the com line.

"Seeing where we are I'm guessing." she said. Ford could tell by her tone she was professional and humorous.

"You find anything though?"

"I think I found the DHD, but it's buried in the wall. Reminds me of that time in Antarctica, except I can't really break through this."

"You'll figure out something. I'll be back to help in a moment unless you need me now?"

"No. I don't think I can do much anyway, so maybe someone outside might be able to help us. If there is anyone here."

"That's an idea. I'll let you know what I find." he said signing off.

As he got closer to the smaller passage he noticed there was scorch marks on the wall. In quite a few places too. He was right, something was wrong here. These were almost fresh burns.

"HALT!!!!"

He turned seeing something he was never expecting to see. It was white in color with a slanted base. On the slanted bases there was small black bubbles going all the way around. Five down the front of each slant going around the base with about fifteen slants. Above the slanted pieces was a rounded part with metal strips or something going down it side on the rounded part except in the front where the right side section had what looked to be a plunger. The other side had a some sort of barrel. Above this rounded section was some vented thing that stacked up three sections high, about a foot. Above that was a dome section with a long pole coming from the middle and what looked to be an eight ball on the end cut 1/4 of the way. The cut off area had a white circle in the middle. The eye of this machine. A couple flashing light bubbles one either side of the dome were there too. They flashed when it talked.

"SURRENEDER OR YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!!!!!"

The Dalek moved forward and Ford swung his hand up hitting the eyepiece. The whole top spun around and he dropped to the ground as the small laser arm started firing.

"MALFUNCTION!!!! MALFUNCTION!!!!! I CANNOT SEE!!!!"

Ford grabbed the base and tipped it on its side. It continued to keep screaming malfunction as he ran away.

"What was that?" Mel asked as he came up the path. "I though I heard screaming or something."

"Run. We are in serious danger!" he said pushing her along.

"We're always in danger." she moaned as they entered the room.

"Fun ain't it?"

"No."

"What's up?" Carter asked getting up from the floor.

"More trouble." Mel said.

"What? What did you do now Ford?"

"Still got some C4?" Ford asked.

"Yeah. Why?" she said putting her hands on her hips.

"Bad company coming. Trust me."
"Let's go look then."

He was about to speak but the look she gave him, he knew that she wasn't going to give.

Ford walked slowly through the curve. At the top of the walkway he looked down seeing twelve Daleks now.

"What, are those?"

"EXTERMINATE!!!!!" the Daleks yelled. They started firing at them.

Ford practically slammed himself and Carter to the ground. Mel and Lara backed off quickly as several burst of laser fire exploded on the walls near them. They backed off farther as more blast came.

"What the hell did you do to piss them off?!"

"Nothing Carter! They're evil machines from Skaro! They were pissed to begin with. Give me that C4!" he yelled back.

"Will that destroy them?!" she said turning over to get in her coat.

The blast were not hitting them, but the chunks of rocks above them where. So far they were just small.

"Not really! I'm blowing the walkway. We can climb. They can't!"

Carter gave it over and started crawling away. Lara helped her up as Ford tossed the block down a few feet. He rolled in quickly as it went off. Some of the ceiling in the room came down and the whole place rocked. Dust filled the passageway making them all cough.

"Do you think you stopped them?" she said waving the air.

"I'll look."

He glanced out seeing some of the Daleks had been knocked over or destroyed but they weren't all taken out. The others were coming up the walkway. The area destroyed was more like a landslide instead of the hole Ford wanted. When they got to the damaged section, something glowed under the Daleks bases and they floated across the broken area. They were crossing it fast and getting closer.

"Okay, that idea didn't work. Now we run."

"Bullets won't stop them?" Lara asked.

"A direct grenade impact won't do much. Bullets certainly won't stop them." Ford said as the laser fire started again. More Daleks came from that bottom from outside.

"Let's move out! We got to regroup and make a plan!" Carter yelled over the laser fire.

They backed off quickly and headed off down the path in front of the buried gate. Entering the room they looked at the passage ways. There was six of them, none having any looks of helping them.

"Which way do we go?" Mel asked.

"Ah….." Carter said trying to decide.

They could hear movement behind them near the gate area.

"Aim for that dumb eye thing. It's the pole on the top of that dome thing." Ford said turning around.

Lara turned pulling her guns. Mel didn't have anything so she got behind Ford. Carter was still thinking.

One of the Daleks came around the corner. It saw them and yelled.

"EXTERMINATE!!!!"

Lara fired both her guns once taking the eye piece out. The Dalek started spinning and hitting the wall.

"MALFUCTION!!!! MALFUNCTION!!!! I CANNOT SEE!!!!" It yelled shooting wildly.

Its shots blew out chunks in the walls around it. A few other Daleks fired upon their damaged comrade taking it out. It blew its top and smoked. The other Daleks started pushing on it trying to get by.

"Here they come." Ford said trying to sight one in.

"This way. It looks to lead up." Carter said.

They followed behind. Ford went last. The passage turned a few times left and right then opened up into another room. It still went up but Carter went running into the room. From there she took a passage on the right that led outside. As the ladies went up a few Daleks came through the passage they just came from. Ford fired a couple rounds taking out one and pissing off the other. It fired back at him but missed as he ran up.

Carter heard the shots as she came running outside. She looked back briefly as she came outside and then looked forward as someone yelled.

"Halt or we will shoot!!!!"

Carter practically slid to a stop. She was slightly bent over as she looked up into the barrel of some weapon. Energy looking from the way the barrel was made. It was a either glass or some other form of glasslike substance that had no hole in it. Other parts of the strange rifle had glowing units that showed it had to be an energy based weapon. Lara stopped behind her still holding her guns. She raised them in the air slowly. Carter let go of her PC-90 and raised her hands standing as well. Mel was going a little slower and didn't know what was going on up above, so when she came out she ran right into Lara which made Lara fall into Carter. They all ended up in a pile.

"Stay down and don't move!"

Ford came out back first with his revolver and Desert Eagle drawn. He turned around noticing he wasn't alone with the ladies.

"Drop you weapons!" someone yelled.

He noticed about twenty ragged and worn out soldiers. They were definitely from Earth. They had armor on, reminding him or some like the guys from the movie Starship Troopers or even those marine dudes from Aliens. Maybe both. Ford hadn't put down his guns yet.

"Drop your weapons or will shoot!"

"Drop my guns! Are you idiots insane?! We got a damned platoon of Daleks on our ass!!"

"Daleks you say?!" one of the soldiers said.

"Stand at ready soldier!" a guy with a yellow stripe on either side of his helmet said. "What do you know about the Daleks?"

"Can we discuss this later!" Ford yelled.

He turned hearing movement.

"Move and take cover!" he said dropping down.

A Dalek came through the small passage.

"SURRENDER!!!!!" the Dalek screamed.

"OPEN FIRE!!!!!"

Energy beams looking like straight pink and white candy canes stripes hit the Dalek. It fired back hitting a guy. He was enveloped in a pinkish glow and screamed as he dropped to the ground as the Dalek turned for another guy.

"Idiots!!!!" Ford muttered.

He was laying on the girls keeping them covered. He rolled off, brought the Desert Eagle into line, and fired. It snapped the long eye rod in half making the Dalek start yelling about its eye problem. Before it had a chance to get through its statement about eye malfunction he fired into the barrel taking its weapon out. With both feet he kicked it back into the passage.

"Somebody give me a explosive!!!"

After Ford had rolled off them the ladies got off each other but stayed to the ground. Carter had turned around getting ready to empty her clip into the next one to come in. After she watched Ford kick it away he yelled about needing a explosive. She tossed him a concussion grenade. He dropped his guns, pulled the pin and tossed it.

"Fire in the hole!" Carter yelled as Ford gave it a heave.

Everyone got down and covered their ears. The explosion shook the ground. The passage way caved in burying a Dalek trying to get out. Dirt and dust came down around anyone close to the blast. Ford was covered enough he almost blended in with the ground.

The ladies got up slowly shaking the dust and dirt off coughing a bit as was some of the men near them. Ford was, not surprisingly, getting up coughing worse. His once blue head of fur was very dusty. He was shaking his head and running his hands through his hair and fur while trying to breath again though the amount he was covered with made things worst for him making him cough even more.

"Sound off!!!" the man with the yellow stripe yelled.

There were several here's and I'm okay's.

"We lost Jake sir."

He swore as he stood up.

"You ladies okay?" Ford muttered trying to still get up.

He still was having trouble seeing as he felt around trying to find his guns.

"I'm fine." Mel said brushing the dust off her clothes and hair.

"No thanks to you dropping on me, but I'm fine." Lara said standing up. She put her guns away shaking dust off in the process.

"I'm fine." Carter muttered getting up and brushing herself off.

"Who are you…..people?" the yellow striped guy said walking over.

He had his gun down but his men didn't. Carter shook her head again getting the dust out of her fur some.

"I am Major Samantha Carter of the United States Air Force. This is Lieutenant Lara Croft and Captain Ford Primus. That is Lieutenant Melissa, junior grade." Carter said.

Almost all of it was a lie, but she was sure they would back her up.

"Why are you the only one with what appears to be a uniform?" he asked looking them all over. Melissa didn't look too much like she was in any branch of service and being in clothes that where….well way out of date didn't help. Lara was only wearing a tank top and her shorts. She also had a backpack and a pair of old hand guns. She might be in some branch. The Ford character looked like he had mystery all over him. He also was carrying a couple old handguns, but powerful from the looks of things. He must be a Captain from his mean looking appearance. The Carter lady did look like she was a Major by the vest, weapon, tone of voice and the way she seemed to carry herself.

"We've had some bad times lately. Mostly problems with getting home." Ford said blowing his weapons off.

He put them away and closed his coat and continued to shake more dust off himself, causing enough coughing fit.

"We've had to improvise on several occasions. We're out of our own time, literally, and have had to make different choices as I said." Lara said brushing her hair with her hand.

Her braid had come undone some and she was trying to fix it.

"Out of time?" the guy asked.

"We're not from this time. We come from the year 2004." Ford said.

"No wonder your equipment looks old. It's the thirtieth century here." a soldier said.

(Author's note: I think I have the century wrong. Anyone knowing Doctor Who would truly know what year the humans where fighting the Daleks. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any episodes in awhile since they're not on T.V. right now. Otherwise just go with thinking it's probably in the years 2800-3012.)

"I've never seen anyone like….what are you?"

"Who are you?" Carter asked. "And why are you here?"

"I'm Lieutenant Commander Rykes. We were fighting the Daleks in a space battle. Our ship was heavily damaged and we had to use our shuttles to escape. We crashed here and have been fighting the Daleks for several weeks now. We still don't know how many we are against. Can you answer my question now?"

"I'll give you the short version Lieutenant. We ended up on a planet where animals made up most of the population. In fact they were pretty much all of the population. Anyway, an accident happened and we were turned into what you see. Melissa was actually a fox like the Major. Somehow she was made human when it happened." Ford said. "I'd give better details, but it would take to long and a very scientific understanding."

"I'll take your word for it then." Rykes said.

He named off his people for them then.

"I don't think we are in any danger right now. It'll take them sometime to get through all that. Let's go to our base and we can talk more."

"Led on then Commander." Carter said.

They all had to walk over a mile through a small desert like jungle. Seemed to be a lot of very tall cactus, but they were orange's, red's, blue's too and a few pale yellows. Some even had hair coming off them. Rykes brought them into a small area where it had burn marks and a couple small crafts that were damaged. Laser fire probably. It was around half the length of a NASA shuttle. It was box like with a door on each side near the front. The front slanted enough to have a window for viewing and below that section was two barrels that were more than likely a pair of lasers. Two short circle pylons came off attaching the engine system to each side. They had a octagonal shape, but almost twenty feet long. Along the side of the engines was a strip going all the way around that looked to possibly glow blue once. The whole thing had a dull gray color.

"This is our base. The only thing we have to survive in. Some of the cactus are edible and we found a stream of water a good hundred yards due east of here. We've been holding out ever since we landed here. Another of our crafts crashed almost three miles away. Some of the crew survived, but we lost them over a month ago."

"How have you kept your weapons charged?" Ford asked. "I know their energy based."

"Solar power and main power in this craft here was not damaged. We can't lift off since the engines are damaged on both crafts we can't leave. We tried once to take a Dalek vessel we saw land and still hasn't taken off, but we couldn't get close enough and our weapons aren't all that effective."

"Aim for the eye!" Ford said shaking his hands in frustration. "Didn't you ever realize that was their major weakness? A static gun would work too. Something about a magnetic field under them causes them to shut down. They can't drive on rugs, carpet, or anything that conducts static electricity."

"So the eye is the key." a soldier named Mickey said.

"Yes. Shoot the eye and then run for cover because they'll start shooting blindly."

"What about their weapons? Any defense?" Carter asked.

"Other than hiding behind something. No. One hit you're dead. There is no real protection." Rykes said.

"What about glancing shots?"

"Sorry lady, no one has even managed to get caught by a glancing shot. They shoot and hit, instant death." a different soldier, a Lieutenant Rogers said.

"You must have had a lot of contact with Daleks if you know that much about them. How long you been fighting them? And what else do you know?" Rykes asked Ford directly.

Ford sat down on the engine nacelle placing one arm across his chest and the other scratching his chin. Carter sat down next to him to hear this as well. She'd interrupt him if she had to. Mel was offered a seat by one of them men and she took it graciously. It was a simply metal chair. Lara said she wanted to stay standing but thanked a different guy who offered. The rest of the men either went in the ship for something, probably a drink for everyone while the others stood around to listen or sat down on either crates, other chairs, or the ground.

"Unfortunately this is my first time coming in direct contact with them, but I've seen enough footage of video to know what they are capable of and their weaknesses. The one's we saw are just basic fighters as I call them. The black Daleks seemed to be stronger and more dangerous. Maybe made smarter, I don't really know. Anyway they were created by a man named Davros. They have attacked Earth in the far past, several times."

"We know about Davros. A team was sent to take him out some time ago. They tried to use a virus or bacterial agent to destroy them. Unfortunately it failed." Rykes said.

"Yes. Surprisingly it took place in the past. Earth's past to be precise, England actually. Each of the viruses or bacteria, I think it was a virus though. Anyway it was in a small blue capsule looking a lot like an egg. Completely harmless to humans or any other life forms except those cyborgs on wheels."

"Cyborgs? That would mean that have biological components." Carter said.

"Yes. The actually life form looks like a someone threw up a large pile of pasta. Very ugly. The original life form was a lot like us, until genetic manipulation turned them into brutally cold killers. No conscious, morals, remorse, or anything that would imply mercy. They have one directive. Conquest. You can't reason with them at all. Like the Borg in some ways."

"Where did you learn all of this information? Only a select few have figured out time travel." Rykes said.

"Ever heard of……the name Doctor?"

"No. Can't say I have."

"I heard a rumor about someone called the Doctor. He so called helped defeat the Daleks on several occasions. It's something I heard that has been spread throughout the ships by other soldiers. I don't know much beyond that." some soldiers sitting on the ground resting said.

"Wait a minute. You don't mean Doctor Who?" Lara said.

"The same one." Ford said.

"So just like Sonic's universe we're in his now."

"Yeah. You seen him before?"

"I…" she started saying when she changed her tone quickly and words. "I once saw him when I was younger. He caught my attention. It was only that one time though."

"Doctor Who?" Carter asked. "That's his name?"

"Yeah." Ford said leaning over to whisper in her ear that it was a popular show like Star Trek. In this case it was about a time traveler that…well traveled through time and space saving people and other adventures.

"Oh. Like our job is back home, in a sense."

"Yeah, but he goes around in a time machine."

"Can you help us defeat the Daleks?" Rykes asked.

"Yeah, but we'll need some help from you guys with something. There's something in that mountain that can get us to our time and back home but it's buried in the wall of one of those passages." Ford said.

"We noticed something strange in the wall when we came through there on a reconnaissance. Some unfamiliar pictures in a circle pattern that disappeared into the wall where it was covered. We didn't know what it was so we left it. Survival came first, exploring later."

"It's called a Stargate. If we can get the control mechanism unburied from inside a wall a few meters from the gate itself we can possible go home, but we don't have the tools for digging." Carter said.

"We could rig something together. I'm guessing blasting it out is not feasible?"

Carter shook her head indicating that it was a bad idea.

"The Daleks may have something that could help, but it would be on their ship." a soldier said.

"Yes, that's true. They have very advanced equipment on board that might have tunneling tools."

"We'll help you get to this ship the best we can. Whether you can help us or not, we don't have much choice. They'll come after us all anyway from what you say." Carter said. "What can you tell us about their strength and inside their ship?"

"He just told you there strengths didn't he?"

"She means what is their current or estimated number of them out there." Ford said.

"Okay, I see what you mean. We figure that they number somewhere in the hundreds. About 130 maybe more, but less than two hundred."

"Damn that's a lot. That's going to be some trouble, but I think we can get rid of a lot of them by a certain trick they'd fall for. Any cliffs around?" Ford asked.

"A couple are nearby. What do you have in mind?"

"You have any explosive's? We have some left, but not enough to do the job."

"A couple thermite explosive devices that are still around."

"Thermite?" Carter asked.

Rykes explained what they were in technical terms by having one of his men help him. Basically it was a very powerful explosive that could take out a block or more.

"That will work. Here's what I have in mind."

While the soldiers and the ladies got ready Ford snuck up on a small patrol. It was three of them.

"Not enough." he muttered.

As they passed by his position he got up quickly knocking the last one over with little trouble. The second began to turn and he grabbed the eyepiece ripping it off and shoving it in the barrel. The first one had turned around by then and he ducked behind the one he just damaged as it fired at him. The Dalek exploded sending parts everywhere. The working Dalek looked around as it moved forward. Ford came up behind it keeping its eye and weapons front while he stayed behind it talking.

"You think you bastards are so smart. You guys are so stupid and easy to defeat."

"YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!!!!!"

"Yeah right. I've heard that before." he said telling the Dalek a location.

"By the way," he said grabbing the side of the aggravated machine. "A very special person has came along to help destroy you worthless machines. You should recognize his name. He's your worst enemy, the Doctor."

This made the Dalek stop moving for several moments before acting up more than before.

"Remember to tell the others." Ford said knocking it over as well.

He ran away quickly. It wasn't long and he came across another patrol. He pulled the revolver as he ran.

"HEY YOU DUMB ASS MACHINES!!!!"

They stopped and turned seeing him. It was all he needed. Three quick hits on the hammer and their eyepieces exploded. He ran past quickly as they started firing blindly and crying out about their being blind. He found several more patrolling and fired off his last three rounds. It managed to get two of them. They fired at him but missed as he reloaded. He ran faster as he heard them yelling exterminate and other orders.

Carter was checking her weapon once again as her and a few others hid behind a large amount of rocks they put there earlier for cover. Not everyone was here though. Most were hiding on purpose. Rykes came up handing her one of the energy rifles.

"I'm sure that you don't have much ammo for that and we don't have any way to replenish them when you run out. Use this since we can recharge it."

Carter nodded and took it. Rykes gave on to Lara who thanked him but frowned upon it after he left. When Carter gave her a strange look.

"I like a weapon with kick. I seriously doubt these have that."

"I'd have to agree." Carter said when her ears twitched. Lara's did the same after a moment. "Ford has the same problem."

"Hmm. That doesn't surprise me."

"Someone's coming!" Carter yelled.

"I don't see anything!" Rykes yelled.

"I hear movement out there." she said looking out with several others.

The other hidden soldiers had there weapons showing but only if you really looked would you know where they where. Rykes touched his helmet as someone spoke to him.

"Stand down! It's that Ford guy!" he yelled.

Ford came running out of the underbrush. He stopped a moment standing in the middle of the open field leaning over with his hands on his knees.

"Ford. You all right?" Carter asked through their com line.

"Just….fine……out…of….breath." he said.

"Get over here."

"Coming in a minute. Waiting to make sure they are coming. I may have…"

"YOU WILL SURRENDER!!!!! THE DOCTOR MUST BE TAKEN ALIVE!!!! EXTERMINATE THE REST!!!! EXTERMINATE!!! EXTERMINATE!!!!!"

"Smeg!!!!" Ford yelled running forward and diving over the rocks as several laser blast hit the rocks.

Around twenty Daleks came out of the underbrush firing at the rocks.

"OPEN FIRE!!!!!" Rykes yelled.

Energy beams were fired from both sides. The Dalek kept coming forward as the soldiers continued to keep firing back. The hidden soldiers were not shooting though per the plan. As the Daleks got closer Rykes made the signal for them to move. Since the rock wall was built near the edge of the cliff, the plan was going just right. Everyone started climbing down the ropes and getting to the hiding places on the ledges. Lara was to be the last since she was better on roping. One of the soldiers hiding above signaled that the Daleks were in position. Lara fired off a few more shots then started down the rope. The Daleks came around the rock wall seeing no one was there.

"SEARCH!!!!!!! SEARCH!!!! SEARCH!!!!!!" one of the Daleks said. As they began to roll away from the ledge, Rykes pushed a button.

Underneath the edge of the cliff, a explosive charge was placed. It exploded causing the cliff to completely shift and start falling. It was a sight that made everyone shout for joy as the whole regiment of the Daleks that came after them fell off with the cliff. The fall was definitely going to kill them since it was a good three miles to the ground. A rope ladder was placed in a different location so it wouldn't go down with the cliff. They all got back up quickly and found they lost no one. This was cause for more celebration.

"That's the first time in a long time since we managed to do that much damage without any lose of life." Rykes said.

"Does feel good, doesn't it." Ford said. "Now we just need to figure out how to get rid of the others."

"True. Any other idea's that might work?"

"Unfortunately not at the moment. I need some rest."

"Agreed. We all do. Let's all get back to our ship. We can start anew in the morning. Night will be on us in about two hours." he said looking at a thing that might be a watch on his wrist. It was hard to tell though.

They gathered the ropes they had left and took off quickly to make sure that they were gone in case any other patrols came along. By the time they returned back to the ship night was already upon them. Rykes appointed guards as usual and was able to get a room for the four newcomers.

For the next several days they tried different tactics taking out as many as they could. Rykes lost three more men in the process. Mel was a surprisingly good shot. She said energy weapons came naturally to her. Ford mentioned it was probably because of no recoil and Carter agreed. Lara wasn't doing to bad. Ford gave up and either used his weapons sparingly or did attacks up close when they had their backs turned. So far the count of taken out Daleks was forty seven.

"We need to get that ship soon. We have little left in food supplies." Rykes said.

"We noticed. I'm sorry we have nothing to offer in return for sharing what little you have." Carter said.

Everyone had gotten used to them being around even though they were not human. Being in a battle to stay alive was more important than how someone looked.

"Your help with taking out so many Daleks has been payment enough. We never really tried some of those tactics much less thought about it. We need a plan that involves taking the ship. Any idea's?"

"We charge it. Take cover and advance slowly taking them out as we see them. There's enough food for two days. After that…well you do the math. At least that is my idea." Ford said cleaning his revolver out.

He still had quite a few rounds left and hadn't used his shotgun much. He had a lot of his personal cannon ammo but its loudness was too great for him to fire it. The Desert Eagle still hadn't been used but it wouldn't be long as the rate things were going.

"I agree. It's better to have a full stomach that won't be bothering everyone while fighting. If we go after them now, they won't be able to regroup in time. If we are lucky." Lara said.

"What do you think of your teams idea's Major?" Rykes asked.

"I've heard better, but seeing as the food supply is short, I agree with them."

"You are right. It doesn't sound all that good, but we'll go with it." Rykes said getting up.

He gathered his men around telling them the plan. That night they made a feast of what was left of the food and planned the attack for the following morning. Daleks could see at night so there was no plan to attack at night. The next morning they gathered what weapons and equipment they thought they needed for the battle. Ford took one of the energy rifles anyway just in case. Luckily despite the many years that had gone by, the idea for placing straps on a rifle had never changed.

"This is our finally push people. We are going to go all out on them and take the ship or die trying. We have to get there no matter what, but be cautious and don't take chances. Make your shots count and make sure it's dead before passing the enemy. We don't need a flanking attack. I will take one team heading straight forward to their ship while some of you will go with Major Carter's team as they try to flank around and get closer to the ship. If they can get in, then they may be able to shut the Dalek's down. We need to do this men. One less Dalek is one less we fight. Good luck." Rykes said.

Everyone got ready to go and he divided up who he could giving them a few people. Rykes made four teams including Carter's. Rykes had the other three going forward in the same direction but one farther right to make sure they were not flanked on that side as well as for the left while Rykes team took the middle. Carter and her small team, six total, took off early heading out through the dense forest. Rykes was going to give them an hour before heading out himself. He said good luck to them as they left.

One hour later they were still going through the forest slowly and quietly. Being as Ford and Carter were canine in species, they could hear much better and more than once heard movement. It was usually some small animal that they didn't smell since that was still new to them. A couple of times it was a Dalek patrol and they got down waiting for them to pass. When they did, they all would use the energy rifles to destroy them quickly. About another hour after the first one they came out of the forest onto a tall hill overlooking the mountain they started in where the gate was still at. Hopefully the Daleks hadn't destroyed or messed with it. Each of them got a set of binoculars out with the exception of Mel who had none. Ford handed his over to Mel after taking a look.

"It's a good ways away. At least another couple hours of walking." Carter said.

"Well Major. We should get going then. The sooner we get there the better."

"Agreed. Move out."

Rykes and his team started taking enemy fire soon after moving in to attack them. So far they had taken out several patrols and no casualties on there side. He hoped that the other's were fairing better.

Another hour had gone by when they came across a large contingent of Daleks. Whatever they were doing they didn't have a chance to find out. They were found out.

"EXTERMINATE!!!!!!"

Energy beams and gun fire erupted as Carter yelled to open fire. Dalek heads exploded as they were hit with precision. It was working well into their favor since the other undamaged Daleks couldn't shoot very well. They were shooting each other and their damaged comrades. It was starting to look in their favor until the Daleks had somehow regrouped and started coming after them.

"Fall back!" Carter yelled.

Ford was using his Desert Eagle since it held the most ammo and was easier to reload. The other hand was shooting blindly in some cases, the energy rifle. Things weren't working in their favor anymore. One of the soldiers that came with them went down as he took a direct hit. They got behind some large trees firing as best as they could. Ford asked one of the other soldiers to place one of the stick on explosives onto a large tree nearby. They detonated ten seconds after being stuck to something. Bad design but hopefully would work for them. The took cover as Daleks kept coming. Ten seconds later the lower tree trunk blew up toppling the tree down onto a bunch of them. They moved forward and fired at the one's that were not in its path. The tree made good protection blocking the Daleks weapons. Then the Daleks changed tactics and aimed at the tree. It was beginning to slowly break apart and catch fire, but quick enough that they wouldn't be enough time to take out all of them.

"We could really use some help about now!" Ford yelled.

"Who's going to come to our aid! No one knows we are here!" Carter said.

Ford got his wish though. As Carter had them fall back to regroup and maybe lay traps. The other soldiers with them were taken out as a couple of Daleks came around the fallen tree. Ford pegged them both with the Desert Eagle and it stayed cocked back signaling it needed reloading. Ford put his gun away as they kept running when Carter made them stop. A strange winding and grinding noise caught their attention. Ford looked around slowly trying to identify its location as he got down on the ground with the others.

"What is…."

"Shhh!! I got to…there it is! Run for that." he yelled.

"What the hell is a police box doing here?"

"Just move!" he said with an urgency that made them move.

As the door opened a middle aged looking man in a outfit that looked like something Wild Bill Hitchcock wore started stepping out. He was starting to close the door when Ford plowed into him knocking him back into the police box. Ford turned near the door.

"There's not enough room for all of us!" Carter exclaimed.

Ford grunted a sigh and shrugged at the same time grabbing her arm and tossing her in. He motioned to the others for them to move as he fired past their heads. Several beams from the Daleks hit around them. Mel and Lara ran in while Ford fired a few more times and pushed them in too. He turned going in quickly as more energy beams hit. One hit the police box while the door was open.

Carter managed to keep from falling to the floor but just barely after he threw her in. Mel and Lara came in a stopping suddenly at the sight after being pushed in.

"This is impossible." Carter whispered looking at the large interior.

There was a strange looking console in the middle of the room with metal beams around it. A old looking TV was hanging from the ceiling and could be pulled down. The walls looked like something from an old mansion that used way to much brown for a color scheme. Something like from cowboy age, maybe. Large bookshelf's lined parts of the rooms and there was a old table near an old chair. Everything looked old, but also new. The man that Ford had rushed into was getting off the floor.

"Now that was just rude. You don't just force your way into someone's ship" he said brushing himself off.

"Close the door Doc. Quickly." a weak voice said.

A thud was heard as Ford dropped his gun and tried to close the door. He slide off it barely making it move.

"Not again. You're accident prove Ford." Carter said coming over to help him.

Ford was barely breathing as she turned him over. The door closed as the man pushed the lever down.

"It……Dalek…."

"Daleks! Where?!" the Doctor said. He rushed over to Ford. He started feeling his chest as he asked again.

"They're outside. We came here by accident and…."

"What's wrong with him?"

"A Dalek caught him in a glancing shot, somehow. His chest muscles and several other organs are failing."

"Wait a minute. Do something?!! He can't die! Not here!!!"

"I'm sorry lady. There is nothing I can do. Nothing anyone can do." the Doctor said getting up.

Carter felt her hand get squeezed then it went limp. She tried shaking Ford but he didn't wake up and after feeling for a pulse and finding none she broke down holding him close as the Doctor walked away.

"This is not good. I knew I would see them again, but not this soon." he said rubbing his chin.

"You're just going to stand there and talk to yourself?" Lara asked turning him around.

"Forgive me lady, but what would you have me do?"

"This is a time machine. The legendary T.A.R.D.I.S!"

"I can't go back and…."

"We don't even belong in this universe!!" she screamed.

Mel didn't do anything except watch the events unfold. She couldn't do anything to help that came to mind anyway. Carter was trying to ignore the two bickering over the time and the universe. She was devastated. The just got married recently and now he was gone. He had said before that he would give his life for hers and had protected her many times putting himself in danger. She always hoped it would never come to that and yet here he was. Dead in her arms. The pain of having no one she really knew around her made her think that things might be better if she joined him in the hereafter. She didn't even think it possible to get home anymore. She held him closer and cried as Mel came over sitting next to her. She put an arm around her but didn't say anything.

"For the last time. I cannot do that. To do so would risk a breach in time that would damage the very rift of space itself!"

"Fine then Doc! Use your exceptional brilliance to find a place where someone might be able to revive him."

Mel was crying with her but not as loud. He had helped save her people or her planet anyway and now he was gone. Carter was still crying as she felt someone tapped her shoulder. She shrugged it off.

"Sam…..you're choking me." A weak voice said in her ear. "I love you, but please let go."

She sat back suddenly still holding Ford in shock.

Ford coughed a few times holding his throat. "You got some grip. Remind me never to get on you bad side."

"You're….you're…."

"Alive. I noticed, but not sure why." he said sitting up from her embrace.

The Doctor had noticed with everyone else that he was awake and had grabbed some scanning tool he had nearby. He ran up kneeling down scanning the blue fox.

"This is incredible! Your body has regenerative capabilities. You don't happen to have Time Lord's for parents or maybe somewhere down the line of your family lineage."

"Doc.."

"Doctor please."

"Doctor. As fascinating as this seems to be, it will have to wait. I have more important things to tend to."

"The Daleks?"

"No. My wife." he said pushing past the Doctor and helping Carter off the floor.

"How are you….I don't understand." she said slowly.

"I don't know. I'm not dead and that's what's important. I promised never to leave you that day, and I guess death was included." he said rubbing her ring. "Took me to break that supposed curse huh?"

The tender moment was broken by Lara who faked a cough.

"As touching as this is, we promised those troops some results Major Carter. We can't stay here any longer." Lara said.

"Right. We need to get out of here." Carter said regaining her composure. She wiped her eyes as she spoke. "Okay Ford. How can he help us?"

She was giving him a look of confidence and determination. That was the Carter he remembered.

"Doctor. We need your help. There's a Dalek ship out there that we need to take over. A little less than a hundred Daleks left."

"We ended up on this planet by accident and came across the human soldiers that are in the war with them. We've been helping the last couple of days and slowly taking the Daleks out. A couple of hours ago the plan was set in motion to charge the ship. We were sent to try and outflank those robotic monsters and ended up running from a couple dozen of them. We came inside here after he heard your machine land." she said looking around. "How is this possible?"

"It's Dimensionally Transcendental dear lady." the Doctor said cheerfully. It wasn't often someone was impressed scientifically.

"Science lesson later. Dalek destruction now."

"He says you're the for most expert on them. What can you tell us?" Carter asked turning to him.

"Expert?"

"You were there when they were created. Fourth regeneration I believe."

"How did you know that?" he asked extremely surprised seeing as out of all the alien life forms he had ever seen, animal kinds like they were was something he had never came across. A few came close though.

"I have friends in high places." Ford said. "I'll explain it later. Right now, lets make plans."

(To all those that really wanted to see where this chapter was going to go. I have to beg for forgiveness and apologize heavily before you all. Even with the help from some people who gave me idea's, I never could get my brain to come up with the rest of this chapter. I tried and tried and tried and even tried by watching a few Doctor Who episodes to come up with something, but I kept coming up blank for ideas. I really tried and failed to finish this chapter so what I'm saying happened is that the Doctor used his Tardis to land outside the ship, Carter and the other's stormed the ship with some resistance but seeing as they knew the Dalek weaknesses, they managed to take the ship with ease. Mostly seeing as most of the Daleks were outside dealing with Rykes and his advancing team which were doing a lot better than before seeing as they knew what they needed to actually shoot at. The finish for this story takes place in a later chapter. Again I must really say sorry.)

A.U.: If someone has a idea of how they think the rest of the chapter might have turned out and wants to email me what they think should have happened, by writing the rest of the chapter themselves, go ahead and I'll remove this thing I just wrote and put it up for the rest of the chapter, give credit to whoever helps me, but after I revise whatever you wrote and tell you what I think about it. It can be short or it can be long with many pages. Biggest details are that Carter and her company cannot die, neither can the Doctor or Rykes. Ford can die, but keeps coming back after a few minutes. The Dalek ship cannot be destroyed seeing as it does get captured. And thing else just email with questions.