CHAPTER 40

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A NEW BEGINNING

Oswin hovered far above the once again war torn landscape of Skaro as she watched over the rapidly escalating war that was taking place all around her. So far she was leading her Daleks to victory over the renegades, but she knew that this could all change at any moment. They were desperate now because they knew that this was their last chance to retake Skaro, and she knew that desperation could sometimes lead to victory if properly focused.

She had to stop them right here and now before it was too late. She was already thinking of a plan for that even as she stood watching the events unfolding around her. It was something that she had been working on for a while now but had never tried because she was unsure about it. She just hoped now that she needed it that it worked.

"What is she doing up there like that? She's just making herself a huge target for every renegade Dalek on the planet," Marissa said frowning.

"She knows, Mum. She's doing that to distract them. She thinks it might make a difference. Besides she's protected by her force field, and she's a Guardian of Time now. Why are you so worried about her?" Lissa asked.

"I'm always worried about her. I'd be worried about her if she was the Empress of the Universe, Lissa. It's just who I am. I'm always worried about all of my crazy family members who repeatedly put themselves in harm's way with absolutely no concern at all for their own safety," Marissa said as she looked meaningfully at her daughter.

"Yeah, I get the message, Mum. I'll try to be more careful from now on," Lissa said with a sigh.

"You got yourself erased from time, Lis. That's a new one even for you. You're not just going to try. You are going to be more careful. Got it?" Marissa said.

"Yes, Mum. I will. I just . . . I couldn't let her die. She's just like my second mother," Lissa said in a choked up voice.

"I know. She loves you too just as much," Marissa said as she embraced her.

"This is very touching, but don't you two realize that there are Daleks fighting each other all around you? Can we have the warm and fuzzy moments later when we're not all in danger of being disintegrated at any moment?" Molly said with a look of disbelief on her face.

"I guess you're right. I'm just so used to living my life with massive battles going on in the background that most of the time I don't even notice them anymore," Lissa said grinning.

"Ever since I met Oswin, I feel pretty much the same," Molly admitted laughing.

"And they call me crazy," Shehzadi said.

"That's because you are," Lissa joked.

"Says you, 'Mistress'," Shehzadi said smiling at her sister.

"I told you not to call me that. It's creepy," Lissa said cringing even as she laughed and gave Shehzadi a small hug.

Marissa smiled at the two of them and was glad that they had become so close to each another now. Once they had hated one another with a passion, and now they were able to trade insults and smile over them just as if they had grown up with one another their entire lives. She was very proud of both of them.

"I think you're all crazy personally," Ace said as she suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Says the girl who loves to blow things up," Lissa said.

"Watch your mouth or you might find out what can happen when I decide to blow up your clothes while you're still in them," Ace threatened with a smile on her face to show that she was joking.

The smile made Lissa sigh with relief. You never could be too sure with Ace. She really was liable to do anything if she got mad enough.

"IS THIS WHAT HUMANS CALL BONDING? IT IS MOST ANNOYING," Dalek Caan said.

"I agree. I find them all annoying," Molly said giggling.

"Thanks a lot. We love you too," Lissa said.

"Do you think she has a plan?" Marissa asked as she watched Oswin still hovering up above them while every renegade Dalek in the area took a potshot at her which harmlessly bounced off of her force field.

"THE EMPRESS ALWAYS HAS A PLAN," Dalek Epsilon said as he joined them.

"Well, it would be nice if Her Highness would kindly let us in on it. She's getting just as bad as the Professor about keeping us in the dark," Ace complained.

"SHE WILL EXPLAIN THINGS TO ALL OF YOU IN HER OWN TIME I'M SURE. IF HER PLAN WORKS THOUGH, THEN THE THREAT OF THE RENEGADE DALEKS WILL SOON BE ENDED FOREVER. TODAY, SHE MAY TRULY EARN HER TITLE AT LAST," Dalek Epsilon said.

"CRYPTIC MUCH?" Dalek Caan asked.

"YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THE WOLF TOO MUCH. YOU ARE EVEN STARTING TO TALK LIKE HER," Dalek Epsilon said.

"AT LEAST I DON'T TRY TO SHOW OFF HOW DARK AND MYSTERIOUS THAT I AM," Dalek Caan said.

"THIS FROM THE DALEK WHO ALWAYS GIVES CONVOLUTED PROPHECIES ABOUT THE FUTURE THAT NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND?" Dalek Epsilon asked.

"THE FUTURE ISN'T ALWAYS ABLE TO BE EASILY DISCERNED EVEN FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN SEE IT. AT LEAST I'M NOT PURPOSELY OBTUSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE MYSELF LOOK BETTER LIKE SOME DALEKS ARE," Dalek Caan said.

"Boys, we're supposed to be fighting the renegades not each other," Oswin said as she suddenly appeared in-between them.

"YES, EMPRESS," Both Daleks said as they looked down to the ground as if ashamed.

"They're just like a bunch of squabbling kids being reprimanded by their mum," Ace said in amusement.

"She sounds just like your mum when she talks to you," Lissa joked.

"Hey, you leave my mum out of this! You're just asking for it today, Lissa," Ace threatened as her hands and eyes started to glow.

"Hey, both of you shut up! I know we're all on edge with all of this destruction going on around us, but there's no need to let it set us at each other's throats. We're going to get out of this. It's all going to be okay. I promise," Oswin said.

"You do have a plan, don't you?" Marissa said with a knowing smile.

"I always have a plan. It's whether it works or not is what I'm worried about," Oswin admitted.

"Gee, you always inspire such confidence among us, Clara. No wonder we're all fighting," Molly said.

"THE EMPRESS WILL SUCCEED," Dalek Epsilon and Caan both said together.

Then they both eyed each other warily in irritation as they realized that they had spoken at the same time.

"DON'T COPY ME," Caan said.

"YOU'RE THE ONE COPYING ME," Epsilon said.

"Hey! Stop it! Just stop it. I appreciate your confidence in me. I really do but I don't like the fighting. It's going to stop. Now. Got it?" Oswin said.

"YES," Both Daleks said.

"They're jealous of each other," Shehzadi whispered to Lissa.

"Jealous? Why?" Lissa whispered back.

"They're both afraid that Oswin likes the other more, and Epsilon is afraid that Caan is going to take his place as her favorite," Shehzadi said.

"How do you know?" Lissa asked.

"That's how I used to feel about you," Shehzadi admitted.

"Me too," Lissa said.

The two sisters smiled at one another while Marissa, who overheard them, shook her head. As if she could ever choose favorites. She loved them both equally, and her love for both children was endless. How could you measure love and say one was more favored than the other like that? It was impossible.

She couldn't help but wonder if Oswin didn't feel the same way about her Daleks.

Oswin kissed both of their casings and smiled at them as she said, "Let's concentrate on fighting them for a change, okay? It's time for me to try my master plan. So cross your fingers or tentacles or whatever, and let's hope that this works."

"Plan on telling us what this great and wonderful plan is anytime soon?" Molly asked.

"Not yet. I can't tell anyone until it's already underway," Oswin said.

"Why? Don't you trust us?" Molly asked hurt.

"Of course I do. I trust each and every one of you without hesitation even Caan who I just met since Rose vouches for him. I'm not sure who else might be listening though," Oswin said.

"What? What are you talking about?" Marissa asked.

"Do you think it's a coincidence that the Dalek Prime was able to resist my Guardian powers? Someone had to have told the Daleks about them and how they worked. Someone's been secretly helping the renegades against me I'm sure of it. If they know the secrets of the Guardians, then they could easily be listening to us right now. I can't take that chance. No, my plan stays safely in my head," Oswin said.

"Then I'm afraid that you've given me no either choice. If I can't find out your plan, then I'll just have to destroy you so that it dies with you," the War Lord said as she suddenly appeared right in the middle of them.

"I knew it! I knew that someone was helping them. So who are you and how do you know so much about me?" Oswin asked.

"That's my secret. Don't worry though. You'll soon find out in time. Right now I'm here to ensure that my army doesn't have any competition. The War Lords are to be the new rulers of this universe, and I don't want any interference from you and your 'children' to keep them or me from our rightful place. You must not be allowed to unify the Daleks. The two sides must be kept too busy fighting with one another to bother us," the War Lord said.

Oswin looked at her questioningly as the War Lord laughed. She knew! She knew what she was planning on doing even though she hadn't told anyone yet.

"You're from the future! You already know what I'm about to do because for you it's already happened. You're trying to rewrite history," Oswin realized.

"Well, give the lady a jelly baby. She figured it out or at least some of it anyway. You still don't know it all, and I'm not about to tell it to you either. I'm going to make sure that things happen as they should without your interference. The Daleks will stay divided and fighting with one another until it's too late for them to stop me. You will not be allowed to become the undisputed ruler of Skaro," the War Lord said.

"Not allowed? Not allowed?! I'm always allowed to do anything that I want to!" Oswin protested.

"You sound like a seriously spoiled little brat right now," Molly said in disbelief.

"I was when I was a kid. Just ask my dad. Sometimes I still can be a little bit of one too," Oswin said.

"I'LL VOUCH FOR THAT," Epsilon said.

"Shut up, Eppy! Like I was saying before I was interrupted, I can still be a bit of a brat sometimes. As in when I don't get my way, I pitch a little fit," Oswin said.

She suddenly pulled out a small handheld PDA like device that she always used for several different purposes she had decided to call Nina and rapidly pushed several buttons on it as she said, "Watch out when I pitch a fit because it can be a doozy."

Oswin looked at all of the fighting Daleks around her expectantly for a few moments and then frowned.

The War Lord laughed as she said, "It won't work you know. I'm blocking it."

"What won't?" Lissa asked confused.

"What is going on?" Molly asked.

"THE EMPRESS JUST TRANSMITTED A NEW COMPUTER VIRUS TO THE RENEGADE DALEKS' NET THAT SHOULD HAVE BROKEN THROUGH THEIR FIREWALLS AND ENCRYPTIONS TO COMPLETELY REPROGRAM THEM TO SERVE ONLY HER. SHE HAD BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR SOME TIME NOW AND WAS CONVINCED THAT SHE HAD FOUND A WAY TO HACK IN THROUGH ALL OF THEIR DEFENSES. THAT APPARENTLY IS NOT THE CASE," Epsilon said.

"No, it's not because I just blocked its transmissions from reaching them by automatically upgrading the firewalls with my own special transmission to their network," the War Lord said smugly.

Oswin suddenly smiled. Now that she knew what had happened she knew that she still a chance.

Oswin began rapidly hitting buttons on the PDA again as she said, "Thank you for telling me what you did. Hacking through any and all kinds of defenses no matter how tough they are is Nina's specialty. She just keeps attacking them no matter what until she finds a way inside of them. I specially made her to do that myself using the secrets of Guardian technology. Isn't that right, Nina?"

"Affirmative. I am accessing the renegade Dalek Net now. I will proceed to make my way past its defenses," Nina, the computerized female voice of the PDA, said out loud in response to Oswin.

"Did I mention that Nina is a living computer virus who also serves as the operating system for my little PDA here?" Oswin asked with a mad grin on her face.

"Nina? You never told me about her," the War Lord said indignantly, and then stiffened because she realized that she had made a major slip.

"No, I didn't, Jenny. Now that I know for sure who you are, I'll be sure not to," Oswin said.

"How did you know?" the War Lord asked.

"I've been around you too long not to recognize you given enough time even with that crazy disguise of yours covering you up from head to toe and scrambling your voice. You're a Jenny from the future," Oswin said.

"I'm the Jenny from the future, Oswin, and I'm what awaits you one day whether you like it or not," the War Lord said.

"You're not my Jenny's future. Not if I can help it," Oswin said.

"It's inevitable. It will happen and there's nothing that any of you can do about it," the War Lord said laughing.

"Oh, you'll find that nothing's inevitable as far as I'm concerned. I'm the master at doing the impossible," Oswin said.

"Dalek Net penetrated. I am rewriting the renegade Daleks' cerebral cortexes now even as we speak. The process will be completed in ten . . . nine . . ." Nina said.

"No. It's not possible. I worked on that firewalls for weeks. Nothing should be able to get through it," the War Lord protested.

"I'm always doing things that aren't possible, Jenny. That's why they call me The Impossible Girl," Oswin said beaming with pride.

"All Renegade Daleks are now reprogrammed," Nina said.

"They, however, call me something else," Oswin said as she suddenly became serious.

"ALL HAIL THE EMPRESS. ALL HAIL THE EMPRESS OF THE DALEKS," the former renegade Daleks all chanted in unison now.

The War Lord began to visibly shake despite herself as she realized that she was completely surrounded in all directions by a planet filled with Daleks who all served Oswin. She knew even with her power that she couldn't defeat the entire planet if Oswin decided to attack her.

Oswin now stared her down with blazing anger-filled eyes as she said, "Basically run."

"This isn't the last time that you'll see me. I will still conquer everything. All things will soon be mine even despite this," the War Lord said.

"Go ahead and run then. Run, you clever girl, and remember. Remember who you really are. You're not this twisted person that you've become. You're still a good person deep down. I know you are despite whatever's happened to make you like this. Please remember," Oswin said softly.

"I . . . I'm sorry," the War Lord suddenly said in a gentler voice.

"Jenny, let me help you," Oswin said as she started toward her with her hand held out in friendship.

"It's too late for me now, Clara. You have to help your Jenny before it's too late for her too. Keep this from happening to her. Please," the War Lord said right before she teleported away.

"I'm sorry too, Jen," Oswin said with her head held down in defeat.

"That can't happen to our Jenny. It won't. We won't let it," Marissa said as she put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You're right. It won't," Oswin said firmly.

She looked up to see every Dalek everywhere looking at her in silence. She smiled at them all and said, "Welcome home, my wonderful boys. Welcome home."

In that moment, she no longer saw them as something ugly or terrible. In that moment as she realized that at long last that she had the means to make them all into a force to do something positive and meaningful with in the universe, she changed her opinion of them all dramatically.

In that moment, she thought that they all looked beautiful.

"Every mother does," Marissa said as she guessed what Oswin was thinking.

"What?" Oswin asked.

"Every mother thinks that their children look beautiful," Marissa said.

"They're not my kids, Mari," Oswin said.

"Aren't they?" Marissa asked.

"I FEEL SOMETIMES AS THOUGH SHE IS OUR CHILD INSTEAD," Epsilon said.

"Oh, just zip it, Eppy," Oswin said.

"THAT'S RIGHT. SHUT UP, 'EPPY'!" Caan said.

"YOU SHUT UP!" Epsilon said.

"NO, YOU SHUT UP!" Caan shot back.

"Maybe you were right after all, Mari," Oswin said trying to keep from laughing out loud.

It was a strange way to celebrate a new beginning but that's what this was. It was not only a new beginning for the Daleks, but it was also the start of a new era for the universe.

Now Oswin was the undisputed master of the planet Skaro. Or at least she was until the Thals returned.

Next: The age old enemies of the Daleks and the other original inhabitants of Skaro, the Thals, return, and they demand to be let back onto the planet. Will even Oswin's much more peaceful Daleks be willing to share their world with them once more? Who says the Thals even want to share?