Chapter Seven: Run

"I've never run this fast before," The Doctor said. "It does clear the mind."

"Yes. It does."

Barry stopped running and looked at The Doctor. He then looked around and said, "Hello? Whatever this is, just let me know what I'm supposed to do next!"

"Are you talking to God?" The Doctor asked.

"No," Barry smiled. "Maybe something similar. Doctor, this is the Speed Force. You're in the Speed Force with me. And the fact that you don't know that makes me question my original thoughts about you not being real. The Speed Force has been around since the beginning of time. We are outside of time itself right now by being here."

"Good thing outside of time is where I shine!" The Doctor laughed.

"Doctor. I told you about my life. Who are you?"

"My name is The Doctor. I'm a time traveler. I also travel through space. I have a time machine called the TARDIS. As of right now, I'm just running, though. Seeing the world. The worlds. Someone told me that my song must end soon. He said every song must end. But enough about that! How are there Daleks in the Speed Force?!"

"I told you, Doctor, they aren't real!"

Just then, a stray Dalek unexpectedly came up behind Barry and screamed, "EXTERMINATE!" Before they could react, the Dalek shot Barry in the shoulder. Barry screamed and fell to the ground.

"Barry!" The Doctor stormed towards the Dalek. "What do you want? What are you doing in here?!"

Barry stood up, as if he barely felt pain from the wound. "I heal quickly, especially in here. Especially from fake wounds," he said.

The Dalek looked at Barry and then at The Doctor. "Doctor. Is there nowhere a Dalek can kill in peace without you interfering?!"

"There is no one in here to kill!" The Doctor said.

Barry replied, "Unless... Doctor, this just got serious."

"Doctor," the Dalek said. "We have exterminated you many times in here. We will be victorious!"

The Doctor, shocked, said, "Barry, what is he talking about?"

"The Speed Force can create an illusion of whatever, or whoever it wants, to communicate with you," Barry answered.

The Dalek chimed in, "The only communications we have gotten were to EXTERMINATE everything at all costs! We have been here for days, weeks, exterminating many of these illusions. And we will keep exterminating them until we prevail!"

Everything started to shake.

"Doctor," Barry said, worried, "I thought the Speed Force was trying to occupy my mind. I think the Daleks are actually hurting it!"

"I told you this was real." The Doctor noticed more Daleks. "Barry, Run!"

Barry and The Doctor, hand in hand, went running, as fast as Barry could.

"Doctor, how do you know these creatures? Why do they hate you so much?"

"They hate everyone and everything that isn't Dalek. I just don't understand how a Dalek could find its way here. They destroyed my people. My planet. I will not let them destroy another world."

Just as he was speaking these words, they heard someone crying.

"Hello?" Barry said. "Hello?!"

They saw someone coming out from the shadows. Barry and The Doctor were both shocked as Caitlin walked out into the light.

"Help us!" she said.