A royal figure with blue skin regarded a couple of his subjects inside a building. "Whatever you do don't let them take the Time Lord weapon. They may be more advanced than us, but we are strong and I know how this will end. The Time Lord that was before any other left that receptacle in the citadel, and told my great grandfather that if it should ever be found nothing in the universe is safe. Especially, if it is found by a creature known terrifyingly as a Dalek…"

Above the planet below in a futuristic spaceship the Doctor, Rose, and Martha stood defenseless next to a whole group of soldiers pointing their guns at them. The suit and tie dressed man in front of them still wearing that wrist strap stood plain and tall grinning familiarly at them. It was the Time Agent, Abel, that they had been chasing across time itself.

Rose answered his rude greeting with disgust. "Bad wolf? Is that some type of crude joke?"

Abel laughed a little to himself. "Had to name it after my prisoners. The S.S. Oncoming Storm just doesn't have that type of ring to it and Martha doesn't really have a nickname short enough for a ring."

The Doctor asked, "You've been planning this for some time haven't you? You're trying to get in that citadel too. But why?"

"The legend revealed to me by Dalek Caan." Abel began to pace as he explained. "The end of the Last Great Time War erased all beings and proof of both the great Time Lord and Dalek civilizations, but there is a myth that something survived out of place as well as time. An artifact of some sort is hidden in that citadel that exudes time and there's only one man who can open it."

"I checked. Believe me I want to see it for myself, but there's no dial, no code, or anything. It's an impenetrable fortress."

A voice resonated from a nearby corridor. "You-will-help-us-Doc-tor."

Martha vocalized everybody's realization. "Caan."

Caan glided over near the crowd chillingly slow. When it stopped the Doctor noticed the wear and tear on the Dalek's body. Caan was the last of his kind and it showed as much as he hated and feared the creature. The Doctor almost felt sympathy for it; almost."Why would I help you, Caan? After everything you have done to me you think I would just…"

The Dalek cut him off. "I-was-not-ask-ing. You-will-help-us."

"If I don't?"

"Ex-ter-min-ate."

The Doctor looked to his left seeing Martha standing and to his right finding Rose. Helping Caan and Abel could be the biggest mistake he could ever make because whatever was behind that citadel could potentially end everything as he had known it. The Doctor couldn't believe himself, but he wanted to know too and if it meant saving his friends maybe he could turn the tables on these two later. "Fine. What can I do?"

Both women tensed not expecting that reaction as Abel regarded him with skepticism. "Ok. Caan has uncovered a code that will open the citadel. The lock is in time; coordinates only a genius could uncover."

The Doctor only half grinned at the compliment with a sense of regret as Rose asked, "And us?" She pointed to Martha knowing they were somehow involved as Abel looked on at them thoughtfully.

"The Doctor needs the TARDIS which I also transported into a supply closet down that hallway." He pointed to indicate. "For this to work it has to be powered to high capacity when he enters the correct code and you're probably more suited with the watchful eyes of my friend here." Abel indicated Dalek Caan. "As for Martha, well I need someone to lead the fleet to the citadel."

The Doctor realized the implications. "No, Abel! The Sirians down there will march a counter attack and I will not let you put Martha in the crosshairs like that! If you want a guinea pig, send me."

Abel smirked as he shook his head. "Oh ye of little faith, Doctor. Martha will be defended by the finest fleet in the universe."

On those words Martha was the first to notice the procession coming from around the corner as five newly minted and scratchless Daleks rolled into the room. One of them turned their eyestalk toward Abel announcing, "We-will-pro-tect-Mar-tha-Jones."

Just as all of three of them were thinking Martha voiced her skepticism stating the obvious. "But you're Daleks. You'd never sacrifice yourself for a human."

Caan spoke up. "Mar-tha-Jones-is-of-high-pri-or-ity-Dal-eks-will-o-bey."

The Doctor nor Rose believed these claims. "Hogwash. Since when do Daleks lie?"

Martha turned to the Doctor seemingly knowing something he didn't. "I believe them." She briefly looked over at Abel standing there almost grinning at her. Martha knew that, as weird as it sounded, the man's bizarre attraction to her ever since he learned her memories was something that couldn't be forgotten. It almost had to be played upon. "Abel will protect me."

Abel smiled genuinely. "With my life, so, Doctor, do we have a deal?"

"Suppose I don't have a choice?"

"Don't be silly. You always have a choice to die."

Rose muttered. "Bit morbid."

"Oh, Rose, you have no idea." Maybe she was being paranoid, but Rose began to think there might be more meaning behind those words.

Abel repeated himself. "Do we have a deal?"

The Doctor answered, "Deal," followed by Rose, Martha, and Dalek Caan also. The deal had been made and there was no turning back now…