Pain.

Complete torture.

That's the only thing her mind could register.

Her body was ridden with the excruciating throbs of agony as it pulsated through ever vein and every nerve of her body. The metallic pang of blood could be tasted on her tongue as she lay there, still and seemingly comatose. But that couldn't be further from the truth. She was awake. She could hear everything. Every bleep of neighboring machines, every whirl of Dalek wheels and the stomach churning robotic voices of the aliens from Skaro.

She could feel every command sent via a computer, she could feel every electrical pathway zapping through her body, each command pulling her energy from her body as the Daleks used the Huon energy integrated into her DNA structure to power their systems and bring stability to their experiments.

It felt like years since she had been travelling the universe, running from the Cult and the Brotherhood, in hopes of finding her home. For all she knew it could have only been months. But it was these precious moments, where she was stuck paralyzed and unmoving, that she was losing time, doing nothing to reunite herself with her family.

And how she dreamed of home. Memories of home were the only reason she hadn't gone mad from the discomfort the machine provided her. Images of her husband; the feeling of his thick mob of hair tickling the insides of her wrists as she kissed him, the sound of his laughter radiating around the TARDIS corridors as she ran away from him and the feeling of his arms around her as he clung onto her tight.

How she loved that man. She didn't care that he never gifted her flowers or chocolate because what was love really? Was it being able to recite Shakespeare's sonnets? Which she had no doubt her husband could do, or was it something else entirely? Was it being able to finish someone's jokes? Was it having absolute faith that someone was there at your back? Was it knowing someone so well that they instantly understood why you did the things you did and shared the same beliefs? Was love sharing the same perverse faith in the universe? Because if that was true, she knew that she and her husband had it all, and she would do all in her power to make sure she fought her way back to him.

But she was pulled from her thoughts when the electrical voices of her enemy heaved her from her reprieve. A continuous stream of energy falling from her as the Daleks faced a distorted image displayed on a TV screen. In her mind she could see what was happening as a grainy picture of a native American man could be seen through the eyestalk of the Dalek under orders by the Cults leader Sec.

"This human is our best option." He said, the lights on his hood flashing with each syllable. "Bring him to me. Prepare the laboratory, the Final Experiment will begin." Sec ordered, his eyestalk swirling to face his brethren, giving his orders and expecting them to comply. When they did, moving to certain interfaces, she was not surprised. Instead she was bombarded by several computer signals at once and again she thought of home as she grimaced through the pain, her mind in overdrive as she focused on her task.

The chiming of the lift doors removed her from her agony and the last of the four Daleks moved into the basement, the clicking of expensive shoes on concrete floor meant the man she had seen earlier was walking at his side. How his life was about to change, unknowingly meeting the masters of his death. From the camera's imbedded onto certain consoles she could see the look of wonder spreading across his features; his eyes were staring at the large wires curling around the floor, taking in the blinking consoles shining in the dark due to her power and his eyes frantically looking towards the tubes of chromatid solution bubbling towards the ceiling. She was surprised by his bravery, for the pig slaves, another of her creations, were nervously shuffling on their feet, squealing and barking as they anticipated orders from the monsters that were the Daleks.

"I bring you the human." The newly arrived Dalek expressed, his weapon positioned towards the back of the man as the pig slaves began to encase them.

"I take it you're in charge." The man asked, his words thick with an old American accent as he spoke with the Dalek masters. Rose was impressed, for he handled his fear well as he spoke to Sec and his minions. It was just a shame he had chosen the wrong side.

"Correct. I am Dalek Sec, leader of the Cult of Skaro." He voiced, two of his companions moving behind their commander as he spoke. Rose just couldn't help but think of him as her kidnapper.

"Then, my lord Sec, I am honored to meet you. Ever since you first made contact with me, transmitting your thoughts into the corner of my mind, tempting me with such images, such ideas, oh sir, I'd always dreamt that the…." He voiced, trying to communicate how he was feeling.

"Cease talking." Rose inwardly smiled when Sec forced him to shut up.

"I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am…" He tried saying again, taking another step forward to try and make Sec listen to him.

"I said cease." He ordered. "Slaves, secure the human." He said once more, the slaves jumping to action as they grunted and snorted, their grotesque animal arms curling around the bloke who suddenly fought against their unbreakable hold. Only now was he beginning to understand how wrong his decision was.

"But you don't need to do that!" He shouted, "I'm on your side!"

"You are our future, you are not important. You provide little." Sec said, pressing a control that suddenly jolted her from her eavesdropping. The jolting movements of her platform flared up the painful throbbing that overwhelmed her entire form. Her mind became fuzzy, as her empty stomach seemed to churn as she tried to push passed the pain that was threatening to engulf her. She felt the muscles of her face tightening as a grimace of agony took hold of her features.

Her hair was blowing around her features as the steam from her structure exploded over her form, her body trembling as the biting chill of the sudden temperature difference started to affect her. The sides of her t-shirt started to moisten; it appeared that the jostling of the large wires that were protruding from her sides and clasped to the surrounding skin were coming loose causing her to bleed. Maybe that was why her head had started to hurt as the cable linking her mind to the computer jolted around.

However, it was a little weird watching yourself, paralyzed, lying on the makeshift platform from someone else's perceptive. From the looks on his face she didn't look well, and from the computer images being transported through her mind to be arranged and saved by the Dalek's computer, which just so happened to be her brain, she had to agree with him. Disgust and dread washed to his expression as he took in what the Daleks were capable off.

Her skin was deathly pale, tinted blue as the blood slowly left her. Her hair was dirtied and lifeless as her long blonde hair fell down towards her waist, far longer than it had for a long time. Last time it was that long she was a teenager and to say it was too long was an understatement. But what concerned her was just how skinny she was. Sure, she knew the Daleks were supplementing her, she wouldn't have lasted this long if they hadn't, but considering her healing factor was far superior to an ordinary humans, for her body to fall into this much disrepair, she knew just how server the situation was.

"You are insignificant compared to our computers mind. You are fit for another purpose." Sec called as he forced his slaves to drag the guy away from her, watching as confusion and anxiety washed to his features. It was only then that he realized he was to die. For the first time in a long time, she felt pity.

0-0-0

The Doctors torchlight was shining on Solomon's back as the older man swept through the sewers, his feet moving him quickly through the wet water puddles, his light searching every nook and cranny as he tried to locate any exit. His spade was still in his hand, but as he moved deeper into the intricate maze of the tunnels he began to anxiously readjust his grip on the wooden handle. The alien had also noticed how Martha seemed to be hanging remarkably close to his side as if her own worry was starting to get the better of her while Frank appeared to be holding it together.

"We're way beyond half a mile. There's no collapse, nothing." Solomon stated, finally understanding that they had been set up and sent down here for another reason, a reason he hoped he would never find out about.

"That Diagoras bloke, was he lying?" Martha asked curling her hand around the Doctor's elbow as she tried to keep up with the pair of them at the same time as making him look down at her.

"Looks like it." Was the Doctor's reply, not shrugging her hand from his arm, but to say it felt awkward and uncomfortable was an understatement.

"So what'd he want people to come down here for?" Frank asked, coming between all of them as each one of them took their chance to shine their torches down the three corridors.

"Solomon, I think it's time you took these two back. I'll be much quicker on my own." He voiced as he lifted his torch to shine on Solomon who nodded in agreement. The Doctor could see Martha's frown on her expression but before she was able to argue with him an inhuman squeal pierced and reverberated around the corridors of the sewers freezing the blood swimming through their veins.

"What the hell was that?" Solomon asked as each other them looked around their environment.

"Hello?" Frank said, his voice being carried by the acoustics of the tunnels.

"Shh!" Martha hushed

"Frank…" Solomon warned in a hushed whisper. The Doctor struggled to focus his eyes as he kept his eyebrows raised and lips pressed together as he tried to think back into his mind for any idea as to what they may be facing.

"What if its one of the folks gone missing? You'd be scared, half mad down here on your own." He enthused, refusing to look at Solomon who was looking down his own corridor. It was Martha and the Doctor to whom he was talking.

"If you think they're still alive." The Doctor replied in all seriousness, one of his eyebrows still raised as Frank looked towards the ground and then back up to the Doctor.

"Heck, we ain't seen no bodies down here. Maybe they just got lost." But suddenly, before the Doctor could even come up with a response, the squealing had them frantically searching once again.

"I know I never heard nobody make a sound like that." Solomon said to the younger man while Martha clung onto her torch and headed down her corridor a frown of anxiety present on her features.

"Where's it coming from?" Frank asked, a frown on his features as the Doctor headed down his own corridor with the other two starting to follow him a little. "Sounds like there is more than one of them."

"This way?" The Doctor uttered

"No, that way." Solomon interrupted; patting Franks arm as he made the younger man follow him, forcing Frank away from the wall on which he had been resting. The Doctor just closed his eyes with impatience as his companions went off on their own, but as Martha looked at Solomon's torchlight, her heart plummeted within her chest when she saw a huddled figure sitting at the base of the wall.

"Doctor" Martha whispered, her voice shaking with fear as she looked over her shoulder and back at him. The Doctor slowly rejoined the ground, a deep frown pressed on his features as he tried to see through the light. He placed a hand gently to Martha's shoulder and gave it a squeeze before releasing it again as he moved towards the creature.

"Who are you?" Solomon asked as he shuffled closer to Frank who had his mouth hanging open. The figure slowly lifted his head, but still refused to move.

"Are you lost?" Frank asked, taking a step forwards to try and see if he could be of any use. The Doctor however just held his hand out to the side in hopes of stopping the young man in his tracks. "I've been thinkin' about folk lost…."

"It's alright Frank, just stay back, let me have a look." The Doctor said gently, crossing his free hand around his middle as he placed his tongue to the roof of his mouth as he slowly sauntered towards the huddled figure. "He's got a point though, my mate Frank." The Doctor voiced, his words coming out far louder than when he whispered with his friends. He cocked his head behind him as he moved ever closer. "I'd hate to be stuck down here on my own. We know the way out. Daylight. If you come with us." The Doctor finished before sitting on his knees directly in front of the unidentifiable creature.

What he saw made his hearts constrict in his chest. The man's face had been completely reconfigured into that of a pig. The nose was completely changed into a pig snout with the lower incisors protruding from his lips. The ears were elongated and hairy but what the most heartbreaking thing was was the eyes. The pig's eyes were oh so very human. "Oh but what are you?" he whispered again.

"Is uh? That some kind of carnival mask?" Solomon asked from his position, all three of them still shining their torches on the Doctor and the creature in front of him.

"No it's real." The Doctor said sadly, his face moving to look at them as he spoke. The lapels of his coat were lying limply on the ground before the Time Lord moved his attention to the pig man again. "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry. But listen to me." The Doctor said as he inched closer. "I promise I can help. Who did this to you?" He finished, reaching over to the pig mans shoulder, watching as he watched the Doctor reaching for him. But, the Doctor was pulled from his studying when the shadows and figures of more pig men came bounding around the corner and into the tunnels.

"Doctor" Martha stated, her voice quivering with fear "I think you better get back here." She said breathy, trying to warn him. "Doctor!" She shouted again, relief moving to her heart when she saw him rising to his feet, shining his torch in the other pig mens faces as he slowly moved backwards and towards his friends.

"Actually…." The Doctor said, his left arm held slightly away from his body as he walked back towards them, his eyes never leaving them. "Good point."

"They're following you." Martha said, stating the obvious that had the Doctor's eyes rolling.

"Yeah I noticed that, thanks." He voiced, watching as the entire corridor filled with the pig men. "Well then, Martha, Frank, Solomon." The Doctor stated before screaming out his final command "RUN!" He bellowed before spinning around and dashing away from the pig men, forcing Martha down the relevant corridor.

The Pig men were screaming.

Their feet were clanging.

Their heartbeats were thumping, all because they were being chased by monsters. The Doctor was running behind the group, forcing them onwards as they bounded around a corridor. Frank slipped and landed on the wall at the same time as Solomon shoving his spade out of his hands and rounded the corner and followed after Martha.

"Where are we going?!" Martha shouted as she came to a sudden stop, unsure as to which way was the correct one as they came to a cross roads. However, before she was even able to catch her breath the Doctor was bolting behind her and shoving himself down the next corridor.

"This way!" He shouted over his shoulder and was relieved to find that the others quickly followed suit. The Doctor continued running, past corridor after corridor until something caught his attention. He skidded to a stop, feeling his companions bashing into the back of him before he bolted down the hallway and into one of the recesses when he saw a ladder ascending out of the sewer system. "There's a ladder!" He shouted before running and jumping onto the metal rungs, reaching into his suit pocket for his sonic screwdriver and went about unlocking the metal lid. With some effort he managed to move the dish away from its resting spot and heaved it open. He clamored through the opening with Martha and Solomon following suit.

"C'mon Frank!" Solomon shouted after he was heaved through the drain. The Doctor and Solomon reached down the hole, holding out both of their hands as they clasped onto the wrists of the young man who was struggling to pull himself free of the grasp the pig men had on his ankles.

"I've got you C'mon!" The Doctor shouted as they pulled at him. The Doctor was losing his grip, clinging onto any and every part of clothing he could, desperate to not let him go and fall. But the Pig men were too strong and they whipped Frank from their grasp and pulled him into the sewer "Frank!"

Solomon flung the Doctor aside and out of the way, the older man determined to seal the drain to prevent any of the pig men coming up out of the sewers. Martha was standing to the side, her face covered as she tried to control her emotions while the Doctor stumbled to his feet.

"We gotta go back down! We can't just leave him!" The Doctor shouted, his chest heaving as his emotions bubbled to the surface, his eyes flaming darkly as he glared over towards Solomon who was trying to regain his breath.

"No! I'm not loosing anybody else!" Solomon cried with authority, standing on the drain as he glared at the Doctor. "Those creatures were from hell! From hell itself! If we go after him, they'll take us all! There's nothing we can do! I'm sorry." He breathed, his voice cracking as he looked away from the Doctor. The Doctor however was looking towards Martha who was looking at him for guidance. Ever the faithful companion, ready to do anything he asked of her.

"All right then, put 'em up!" an unfamiliar voice sounded, heaving the trio out of their dark conversation. Martha snapped her hands in the air while Solomon and the Doctor followed suit, albeit a little slower. She just pulled at the safety catch, her blue dressing clinging onto her form as she swished her blonde curled hair away from her eyes. "Hand's in the air and no funny business! Now, tell me you shmucks, what have you done with Laszlo?"

"Whose Laszlo?" Martha asked, a frown of confusion on her features as she looked towards the woman with her hands held out to her side.

0-0-0

The Doctor was beginning to tire of the ache within his head. His eyes had become tired due to the physical and emotionally tiring day both he and Martha had endured. However, as he stood in the doorway of a young showgirls dressing room, he knew it wasn't about to get any better. He was trying to block Martha from view as the young blonde sat at her dressing table, her light blonde curls shining in the lights etched around the corners of her mirror, flinging her weapon around in the air as she spoke.

"Laszlo's my boyfriend, or he was until two weeks ago. No letter, no goodbye nothing. And I'm not stupid. I know some guys are just pigs but not my Laszlo. I mean what kinda guy asks you to meet his mother before he vamooses?" She voiced, still waving the gun around, dangling her arm over the back of her chair as she spoke to the three of them.

"Might…. Might just help if you put that down." The Doctor stammered, his eyebrows raised as he held out his hand, his body standing side on so he could take a bullet if things came down to it.

"Huh? Oh sure." She said, realization washing into her features as she flung the weapon onto her cushioned chair. The Doctor suddenly moved aside and towards the doorframe, trying to protect himself. "Oh, C'mon it's not real." She said with a smile. "It was either that or a spear."

"What do you think happened to Laszlo?" Martha questioned as she pushed herself around the Doctor so she could get a better look at the girl who was starting to do her make-up.

"I wish I knew. One minute he's there, the next zip- vanished."

"Listen, ah, what was your name?" The Doctor said, taking a few steps towards her.

"Tallulah."

"Tallulah."

"Three 'L's and an H."

"Right, erm, we can try and find Laszlo, but he's not the only one. There are people disappearing every night."

"And there are creatures. Such creatures." Solomon stated, causing Martha and the Doctor to turn to face him while Tallulah leant back on her chair to look at him.

"What do you mean creatures?"

"Look. Listen, just trust me. Everyone is in danger." He said looking down at her before reaching into his extended pockets to pull out the green creature he had found on the sewer floor. "I need to find out exactly what this is." He said, ignoring the flinching of Tallulah and her disgusted face as she tried to hold her breath. "Because then I'll know exactly what we're fighting."

"Yech!"