Author's Note: I decided after working at least 45 hours in the last five days (probably more, considering how late I've been up doing laundry) to take a day off. Which made my mood go up quite a lot! I wrote a new story, which wound up being about 25,000 words, starring the Seventh Doctor and Ace, in the past, interplayed with Jack and Seo in the present. I don't know if it's any good, but it was fun to write.

It's also why this update is late.

Enjoy this next bit of the story! I'm off to bed.

"DIMENSIONALLY SEALED DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED!" one of the Daleks shouted.

Another drifted over to the machinery onboard their ship, and stuck out its plunger to touch a sensor pad. The machine whirred into life, numbers and letters and alien language surging out across its displays.

"ANALYSIS OF UNLOCKING PROCEDURE RECEIVED," the second Dalek reported.

"EXTRAPOLATE METHOD OF ENTRY FROM GATHERED DATA!" commanded the Dalek in charge. "WE MUST GAIN ACCESS TO WHAT LIES BEYOND THE DIMENSIONAL DOOR!"

The other Daleks all twitched their eyestalks, as they chorused, "WE OBEY!"

Thirty seconds passed, before the second Dalek pulled away. "UNLOCKING SEQUENCE DETECTED."

"THEN BREACH THE DIMENSIONAL DOOR!" commanded the Dalek in charge.

The other Daleks all spun around, advancing towards the exit hatch of the ship. "WE OBEY!"

Seo almost broke down in grateful relief, when she saw everything was still intact. Nothing had been disturbed, and there were no signs that the Daleks had ever been down here.

"You're safe," Seo said. "I… was so scared."

The figure behind the force-wall just sat on her bed, cradling a ragged-looking doll. She didn't look up at Seo. Instead, leant down towards the doll.

"Look who's come to visit, Miss Edith," she whispered to her doll. "Our murderer."

It still stung, hearing her say it. Even after all the times she'd said it in the past.

"But I didn't let you die twice," Seo insisted. "I came back, remember? In 2004. I saved you, Drusilla."

"The world burst with golden light," Drusilla remembered. She lifted up her face, a little, musing over it. "Everyone screaming and dying as the light encompassed them. And then my little glowing savior came back. Swept Drusilla out of sight and threw away the key."

"I can't let anyone find out you're alive," Seo argued. She shuffled, awkwardly. "If I do it this way, you fall through the cracks in history. Everyone assumes you've died, and you can continue living. I can make sure you're all right."

Drusilla turned around.

It was a sight that always made Seo remember just how much she'd failed Drusilla. Despite everything she'd tried to do, Drusilla remained a vampire. With no soul. A vampire who was completely and utterly insane.

Seo had spoken to Spike, right around 3012, about it. Said she couldn't stand having Drusilla be caged like this, and had been doing research into restoring Drusilla's soul back to her.

At which point Spike had just scoffed and said — Think all that guilt's gonna make her any less insane?

There had been nutritional supplements and iron tablets invented that could keep vampires looking vaguely human. But Drusilla had refused it all. And so she'd turned out like this. Caged. Her face looking more monster than it was human. Her fangs protruded, her mouth twisted into a vampiric snarl — and unable to change back.

It hurt to see her like that.

"Pretty little Seo," said Drusilla, getting up off the bed. Advancing forwards. "Pretty, shiny little thing. Been so lonely, here, all on my own." She stopped, just beside the force wall, reaching out but not enough to harm herself. "You're the only one who comes to play."

"What about Spike and Angel?"

Drusilla pouted. "Gone," she complained. "No more time for Drusilla. Not anymore."

Of course. They must have made themselves scarce, once the Daleks showed up on this planet.

"Don't like the wall," Drusilla said. Touched her hand against it, then hissed and shook it out, as the electricity stung her fingers. "Want you to come in here. Want my pretty little one."

Seo gave a small smile. Stepped back. "I'm sure you would. But I'd like to keep my blood inside my body, if it's all the same to you."

Drusilla whined, impatiently. Stomped her foot against the ground. "Not fair!" she said. "Not fair. Want to make you dark, like me. Want to feel alive, again."

Seo went over, checked the blood levels. "You'd feel more alive if you actually ate something," she pointed out. "What is this, a hunger strike?"

"It's not human blood," Drusilla complained. Slumped, sulking. "I want human blood. Or yours. So lonely."

Seo closed the gage. Turned around, a little irritated.

"Look, I can sympathize with being bored because you're locked away in hiding," Seo said. "It's why I keep coming back, much as I can, to keep you company. Why I let Angel and Spike have access. Why I… indulge you, sometimes, and take down the force wall."

Drusilla gave a large grin.

"Admittedly," Seo muttered, "the first time I did, I wasn't exactly expecting a snog, but… all things considered, I think I dealt with that… pretty well."

"Mummy said it would be wicked," said Drusilla. "But we won't tell. Will we, my little pretty one?"

"And the snogging is… tolerable," said Seo. "Not pleasant, but… well... you're lonely. I'll give you that." She shook her head, and put her hands on her hips. "But I draw the line at your attempts to torture, blood-suck, and molest me! You have to treat me with respect, or you get no Seo-time at all."

"Because mummy's about to go away," Drusilla mused. "When they come. And they are coming, Seo. They're coming back. They are returning, because it is returning — returning, always returning, returning through the darkness and the void. And when they come back, Seo, you will kill her."

Seo paused. Froze. "What is… I mean who is…?"

"An enemy will rise," Drusilla told her. "One who pushes you to your limits. I can see… you." She frowned, in thought. "Your life so intricate. Family gained… and family lost."

"Mom…?!" Seo started.

"You will be many and one, Seo — reflections through shards of broken glass," Drusilla interrupted. "Every reflection different. Every face unique. All gathered together to fight a great evil. To rise to your biggest challenge."

Seo's eyes widened.

"But… no, wait!" Seo said. "Mom. You told me Mom was going to…! That I was going to kill…!"

It didn't make sense! She couldn't believe it! Didn't want to.

But it didn't have to happen. Drusilla's visions didn't always have to happen — Seo knew that! She'd already stopped one of Drusilla's vision, by saving her from the end of the vampires.

"I'll stop it," Seo said.

Drusilla leaned in. A twinkle in her eyes. "Yes," she whispered. "That's why it will happen."

Seo swallowed, hard.

"Beware, little Seo," said Drusilla. "Beware the Sunglasses."

Seo opened her mouth to ask more…

And that was when the sound of the door unlocking echoed through the chamber. Followed by the thud of its opening, and a metallic, grating voice, shouting, "ENTRY GAINED."

Seo's eyes went even wider.

As she realized… there was nowhere left to run. Not anymore.

"PRISONERS LOCATED!" came a cry, as one of the Daleks hovered into sight. Its gun barrel twitching, as it advanced towards Seo. "DO NOT MOVE! DO NOT MOVE! YOU ARE PRISONERS OF THE DALEKS!"

Four other Daleks swooped in, behind the first. All aiming their gun stalks directly at Seo.

Seo didn't move a single muscle.

"BIO-SCAN DETECTS PHYSIOLOGY CONTAINING DIMENSIONAL ANOMILIES," said one of the Daleks, plunger extending. It then switched towards Drusilla. "PHYSIOLOGY MATCHES THE BEINGS KNOWN AS VAMPIRES." It retracted, with a whir. "IDENTITY CONFIRMED. THESE ARE THE HUMANOIDS WE SEEK."

"You… can scan me?" Seo squeaked.

"SILENCE!" shouted the Daleks. "SILENCE!"

Seo shut up.

"YOU WILL OPEN THE FORCE SHIELD AND RELEASE THE VAMPIRE," said the nearest Dalek, flying closer. "OR YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED."

Seo sucked in a sharp breath.

"OBEY!" shouted the other Daleks. "OBEY!"

Seo looked over at Drusilla. Dare she? But she'd brought Drusilla here to protect her. Make sure she was safe! If the Daleks couldn't get her in there…

"No," Seo decided. Balling her hands into fists. "I won't do it! If you can't get her in there, then you can't get her at all!" She stepped forwards. "And you won't kill me. Because you want me alive."

The Daleks were silent for a few long seconds.

Then, "INCORRECT."

Seo felt her hearts sink. "What?"

"RELEASE THE VAMPIRE," shouted the Dalek. "OR YOU WILL BE USELESS. YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!"

"EXTERMINATE!" shouted the other Daleks. "EXTERMINATE!"

One of them fired, and Seo just barely managed to dodge the shot in time. It struck the ground by her feet.

And she realized… they weren't bluffing.

They would really kill her.

And… the thing was… Seo didn't want to die.

"EXTERMIN—!" one of the others shouted, getting ready to fire.

"Wait!" Seo cried. She turned to the controls, and began to fiddle with them. "I'll do it."

She could hear the force wall coming down. Looked up to meet Drusilla's eyes, as the vampire tread towards her. Half-expected Drusilla to just plunge teeth into neck the moment she got close enough — and maybe that was what the Daleks had wanted all along. Who knew?

But Drusilla instead took Seo's hand.

"Pretty shiny thing," she said. "Don't die." In a whisper, "Miss Edith will be very cross."

Seo looked up into Drusilla's eyes. They were yellow, now, yes, but… inside of them… Seo could see something else.

A spark of something Seo couldn't quite work out.

"THE PRISONERS WILL MOVE!" shouted the Daleks. "MOVE! MOVE!"

And as they were ushered out of hiding and into the open, Seo squeezed Drusilla's hand.

"I'll get you out of this," Seo said. "Promise."