52. Empress of the Universe
1. Interrogations aboard a Dalek Battle Cruiser.
Dalek Plot advances on Chloe. She's trapped in a room somewhere on a Dalek space battle cruiser.
Dalek Rove is behind her, preventing her from retreating any further.
How did I get into this mess? Chloe thinks. She could have been sitting at home with her feet up! .
She thinks of the Doctor, and she knows why – she wants the Doctor! But then she considers what else might be happening just now. The Doctor may well be getting similar treatment elsewhere on board!
A short while earlier she changed her wristwatch transport so that it will activate when she clenches her fist, if needed (ref. 29). She had become wary of many times when she needed to press the button on the wristwatch only to find that she couldn't reach! .
"We know you can regenerate like the Doctor!" Dalek Plot says. "Yet you are not from Gallifrey! Explain!" (Ref. 12.)
Dalek Plot advances far too close for comfort, if one might even think of comfort at such times.
Chloe prepares to clench her fist where neither Dalek can see. Their over-long eye stalks are scanning her for signs of stress; the Dalek behind her must purely be checking her hair! . Its sucker is extended to the small of her back to prevent retreat but for now isn't applying any painful morphing logic on her.
A tempting Dalek weapon lies on a table-like surface, but, she thinks, it's unlikely to be unlocked or working. Finding out will take time and the Daleks would purely say they shot her while she was armed. They don't care but are callous enough to know that others might and play on it.
On the other hand, the weapon might be useful just to wield it at a Dalek and the strike might disorientate it for a while.
Chloe activates her wristwatch transport while thinking exactly where and when to go to...
She re-materialises immediately behind Dalek Plot where the other Dalek can't see her.
She could go anywhere else in the universe, or to any other time, but she chooses to avoid letting the Daleks know the true power of her transport. For now, they simply think it can move her around in the room, which, as far as the Daleks are concerned, is sealed. They know nothing of the Time Continuum her transport is based on (ref. 29).
Chloe pushes Dalek Plot hard. It trundles at moderate speed into Dalek Rove. .
"You two kissed!" she says cheekily. . She knows it will infuriate the Daleks, but she knows she isn't confined to stay with them to be at their beck and call forever. She's observed Daleks for a while now and feels that she knows exactly how much they can take. She'd seen the Doctor take phenomenal risks doing that (ref. 45), and it hadn't always paid off!
The tell-tale signs of their anger winding up begin. Their clipped speech, their impatience stretching too far. She can tell she's in for a roasting ... if they can get her!
Three, two, one ... Chloe activates her transport again to another part of the room, this time to the side.
The Dalek gun fires and makes a mess of the wall where she had been. The wall is bent, glows red and smokes, a few sparks of molten metal fall to the floor. These guns are an upgraded type but disguised to look like their traditional guns. The gun on the table-like surface might work but have nothing like the fire power of these two Daleks!
Now she knows what she's up against. She knows what she must do...
The two Daleks disentangle themselves and Chloe advances to be exactly between the two Daleks near where she had been: a critical position ready for her next move. This move must be well timed. She recalls the Doctor failing to time this one correctly and everyone suffering as a result (ref. 45). Today, it will only be her suffering if she gets it wrong!
"Good snog?" she taunts. .
Three, two ... she activates her transport yet again. She daren't leave it quite so close this time. The two angry Daleks have their weapons locked on and charging ready to fire.
From her new location on the other side of the room she watches as the two Daleks fire their upgraded guns at each other at point-blank range. Neither will survive that! When will they learn? she thinks.
Time to leave! There's no point her staying now. There is no food or water in the room for her and unless one of the Daleks alerted their central alarm system, none will come for a long time.
She thinks of the space just beyond the door and activates her transport...
No luck there! A Dalek is waiting for her. They have learnt something, apparently! . She glances along the corridor and thinks of a place just around the corner at the end of the corridor.
Timing is crucial again. "You're too late, rustbag!" .
Three, two ... she activates her transport and stands tall in the next corridor. A loud bang tells her the Dalek just outside the door is suffering from a partial reflection of the fire power. .
She glances around the corner and sees that the door has been disintegrated, apparently permitting her escape.
Now she must find the Doctor!
Chloe might do some other things on the way!
The Daleks are furious when Chloe always wins!