Chapter Six: The Speed Force

"Where am I?" The Doctor asked. "Is this some sort of alternate dimension?"

The man looked worried. He looked up. "If you're playing games with me again, I don't have time for this!"

"Who are you talking to?"

"You're probably not real, so I might as well tell you. My name is Barry Allen, and I am the fastest man alive. They call me, The Flash. My world was crumbling. We had just stopped a villain. That villain, was an alternate version of me from the future. Someone I will never become. But once we defeated him, they needed me. They needed me to be here."

"Who?"

"The Speed Force. They need someone here to bring stability to this Speed Force energy. With no one here, my world would have been torn apart, literally."

The Doctor sighed. "I am familiar with that feeling, worlds torn apart."

"I've been running here for, I've lost track of the time, but the Speed Force sometimes tries to occupy my mind so I don't go insane. That's what you are. A distraction from my reality that I have to run in here, forever."

"Oh, forever takes too long," The Doctor said. "Maybe I can save you."

"I don't need saving," Barry said. "You don't understand. I chose this. I'm saving my family, my friends."

"There has to be another way!"

Barry looked up and said, "Nice distraction. First, the metal androids, now this, this man?! I don't have the patience for these distractions anymore!"

Barry was about to run, when The Doctor looked at him and said, "There were Daleks in here?!"

"I don't know what a Dalek is!"

"Metal android like creature, round things, looks like an evil pepper shaker, whisk and plunger, eyestalk!"

"Yeah, there were many of them in here. Well, they weren't actually in here. It was the Speed Force distracting my mind."

"Are you sure?" The Doctor looked very serious. "Barry, are you one hundred percent absolutely sure?!"

"Yes. They are as real as you. What was your name?"

"I'm The Doctor. And these Daleks are VERY dangerous. You wouldn't believe the hatred they have."

"They seemed pretty angry when they were here," Barry shrugged. "They kept talking about exterminating something."

"Not something. EVERYTHING!"

"Good thing they aren't real then!" Barry laughed. "I'll see you around, Doctor."

Before he could run off, there was a noise off in the distance. Lightning flashed, as if in anger. And far off, The Doctor and Barry saw something coming towards them. They also heard the noise from another direction. And another. Before they could react, all around them, there were Daleks!

"Oh, look Doctor, it's your friends!"

"They, are not my friends. And I think they are very, very real."

"It was nice to meet you. But I have to start running again."

"You love running," The Doctor said. "Trust me, so do I. Wait. Barry… Allen was it?" The Doctor looked puzzled. "Aren't you from a comic book?"

Barry laughed, "I could say the same thing about you! Doctor... Strange was it?"

"No, no, definitely not! Just, just call me The Doctor."

"I think we have a more pressing matter at hand!" Barry said, as the Daleks closed in on them. "Even if this isn't real."

"This is VERY real, Barry. You need to trust me."

"Okay, Doctor, take my hand, I'll get us out of here."

"Oye, that's my line!"

"Doctor, if you want me to trust you, then trust me. Take my hand. We'll sort this out AWAY from these robots, whether they be real or not."

Realizing Barry knew this place better than him, The Doctor took Barry's hand. "Right. You know what to do! Run!"