7. A Dalek Encounter.

The Doctor struggles with his Tardis controls. The familiar grinding is still louder than it used to be. It's a bumpy ride. Chloe grips the handrail as the Tardis is tossed about.
"What's causing this?" Chloe asks.
"I don't know yet, but everything I do is counteracted by something ... or someone!"
"We could just face whoever it is," Chloe suggests.
The Doctor's not used to giving up without a fight. The Console screen is mostly lit up in red showing the Tardis is stressed.
Suddenly there's a loud clunk and the Tardis stops moving. The grinding also stops abruptly.
"We've landed," the Doctor says.

An image of a Dalek forms on the screen briefly. "Doctor, you will leave your Tardis now! We have you in our power!" A rather curt message.
The Doctor reluctantly opens the Tardis door.

"Ha! Doctor, we do not fear you! You can go nowhere!"
"Who am I talking to?" the Doctor asks. Delaying tactics while he learns what they're doing seem a good option.
"I am Dalek Hoopla. I'm told it might be funny to you. Laugh at your peril! It wasn't my choice!" .

The Doctor strides up to the Dalek. "Is this your doing? You ... are getting too big for your boots! I won't tolerate this behaviour! ... Dalek Hoopla! Ha, ha!" .
"You can do nothing to stop us. We have you! We will be victorious!"

Chloe appears at the Tardis door.
The Daleks notice her at once.
"No! Surely not Chloe!"
"How is she here?" another Dalek asks. "We must grovel!" .

Chloe casually takes a step away from the Tardis. "You will release the Tardis from your ViceGrip or face the consequences!"
"How do you know the name of their equipment?" the Doctor asks. .
"I just know," Chloe tries to make it sound casual.
"Your Eminence is correct," Dalek Hoopla says. "Your wish is our command! Your Eminence is free to go. We will get you another time, Doctor!" .
The two Daleks leave at speed before any further commands can be given to their detriment.
The Doctor and Chloe re-enter the Tardis.

"Your Emminence? What's all that about?" the Doctor demands to know.
"Just one of the titles I permitted them to use when I dealt with them," Chloe says. "I saw their blueprints for their newest weapons and tools. I must ask Simeon to make some changes to your Tardis to counter their action."
The Doctor isn't pleased, though.
"Alright, thank you for upgrading my Tardis," he says irritably. "When you say you want to be at my side, doing things my way, how can we do that if they all revere you and ridicule me?"
"I'm sorry, that won't last long," Chloe says. "I'm unsure just how to fully return to our previous normal, though. We can return to a near normal, though."
"We must, somehow," the Doctor says. "But for now ..." He steps up to Chloe hugs her and rubs noses with her. He can see that things aren't going to be just the same, but maybe they can still build a brighter, better future for the Universe together.

THE END

The previous episode in this series is called "A Tale of Two Planets" (ref. 51).

The next episode in this series is called "Chloe at the Sharp End".

I hope to add further episodes soon.

Sparse References.

Reference 2 Episode Lateness in this series,
where the Doctor placed planet moving equipment at intervals around a planet simultaneously. .

Reference 9 Episode Gallifrey Exhumed in this series,
where Gallifrey was destroyed by the Master but the Doctor, later in his timeline, rescued half the population from underground shelters.

Reference 12 Episode Crystelle Growth in this series,
where Chloe's mother, Crystelle, had re-developed regeneration from Gallifreyan instructions.

Reference 24 Episode Dangerous Mission in this series,
where the Doctor had given his wife a ring to assist in her mission. Doubtless this has been passed on to Chloe's mother on its way to Chloe.

Reference 29 Episode The Wristwatch Tardis in this series,
where Chloe built her wristwatch transport based on the Time Continuum from Gallifreyan instructions; more recently updated to activate on clenching her fist.

Reference 45 Episode First Regeneration in this series,
where the Doctor took risks goading the Daleks but didn't win!

Reference 51 Episode A Tale of Two Planets in this series,
where Chloe happened to use the ring and noticed its effects.

At points in the story where there is humour, an additional full stop is added. .

ANOTHER END