"These…humans will become like me." Sec croaked as The Doctor slipped, unnoticed behind some machinery. "Prepare them for hybridisation."
The pig slaves began to close in on Zara, Martha, Frank and the other prisoners.
"Leave me alone!" Martha cried as Zara watched casually. "Don't you dare!"
Suddenly "Happy Days are Here Again" began to play through the room and everyone stopped, looking around.
"What is that sound?" Sec asked.
The Doctor stepped out from behind the machinery, radio in his hands, "That would be me." He said, setting down the radio. "Hello. Surprise. Boo. Et cetera."
"Doctor."
"The enemy of the Daleks." Jast cried.
"Exterminate." Caan said.
"Wait." Sec interrupted.
"Well, then." The Doctor said, eyeing Sec. "A new form of Dalek." He walked forward slightly. "Fascinating and very clever."
"The Cult of Skaro escaped your slaughter."
"How did you end up in 1930?"
"Emergency Temporal Shift." Zara said quickly, making the Daleks and The Doctor look over at her. "I'm guessing, yeah?"
"Who is this woman?" Sec asked.
"Me?" Zara smirked, wriggling out of the group of prisoners and walking over to The Doctor. "I'm Zara Saxon."
The Doctor scoffed, returning to subject, clearly not wanting to drag Zara into the Daleks remembering her, "Oh, that must have roasted up your power cells, yeah?" He strode away, looking about. "Time was, four Daleks could have conquered the world but instead your skulking away, hidden in the dark, experimenting." He took a deep breath. "All of which results in you."
"I am Dalek in human form." Sec said.
"What does it feel like?" Zara asked calmly. The Doctor looked over at her in shock, clearly not expecting her to say that. "You can talk to me, Dalek Sec." She edged forward slightly, giving him a sympathetic stare. "It is Dalek Sec, isn't it? That's your name? You've got a name and a mind of your own. Tell me what you're thinking right now."
Sec stared back at her, "I…feel…humanity." He said slowly.
"Good." The Doctor nodded. "That's good."
"I…feel…everything we wanted from mankind, which is ambition, hatred, aggression and war. Such…a genius for war."
"No, that's not what humanity means."
"I think it does. At heart, this species is so very…Dalek."
Zara let out a small laugh, "What have you actually achieved with this Final Experiment, eh?"
"Nothing!" The Doctor said in agreement. "'Cause I can show you what you're missing with this thing." He pointed at the radio. "Simple little radio." He patted the wooden radio.
"What is the purpose of that device?" Caan asked.
"Well, exactly. It plays music. What's the point of that? Oh, with music, you can dance to it, sing with it, fall in love to it. Unless you're a Dalek of course. Then it's just noise." He quickly pulled out the sonic, using it on the radio. A painful screech emitted from it and the prisoners and Sec held their ears in pain as the other three Daleks span round. "Run!" He grabbed hold of Zara's hand, running out of the room, following the other prisoners.
Martha led the prisoners through the sewers, The Doctor and Zara behind them. Martha stopped suddenly, lost, when The Doctor and Zara came running past them.
"Come on!" The Doctor shouted. "Move, move, move, move, move!" They all ran down a tunnel, running into Tallulah. "And you, Tallulah! Run!"
Tallulah looked, bewildered as Zara grabbed her hand, pulling her along with them, "What's happened to Lazlo?" She asked as they ran along.
"Just..." Zara groaned. "Shutup Tallulah!"
The Doctor stopped at a ladder, leading everyone up.
"C'mon! Everyone up!"
...
The Doctor stood next to Solomon, standing around a fire back at Hooverville, Zara, Martha and Tallulah sitting opposite them on crates.
"These Daleks, they sound like the stuff of nightmares." Solomon said. "And they wanna breed?"
"They're splicing themselves into human bodies." Zara explained, leaning forward.
"If we're right," The Doctor nodded in agreement. "They've got a farm of breeding stock right here in Hooverville. We've got to get everyone out."
"Hooverville's the lowest place a man can fall." Solomon said, shaking his head. "There's nowhere else to go."
"I'm sorry, Solomon. You've got to scatter. Go anywhere. Down to the railroads, travel across state, just get out of New York."
"There's got to be a way to reason with these things."
"There's not a chance." Martha sighed.
"You ain't seen 'em, boss." Frank said.
"Daleks are bad enough at anytime," Zara stressed. "But right now they're vulnerable and that makes them more dangerous than ever."
The Doctor looked over at Zara sadly. From the way the woman held herself to the way she spoke... it was all wrong. She was all wrong. No young woman should have to deal with the intelligence of the whole universe, especially the Daleks. She was something new, something different... something that The Doctor knew the universe wasn't ready for. Something he knew... he was never meant to meet.
A whistle blow from the edge of Hooverville shook him from his thoughts.
"They're coming!" The sentry screamed. "They're coming!"
"A sentry. Must have seen something." Solomon muttered.
"They're here! I seen 'em! Monsters! They're monsters!"
"It's started." The Doctor said through gritted teeth.
"We're under attack!" Solomon shouted to the whole of Hooverville. "Everyone to arms!"
Men began to start passing out guns and weapons to each other as Frank approached them, Martha and Tallulah jumping to their feet.
"I'm ready, boss, but al o' you!" Frank called. "Find a weapon! Use anything!"
Some of the residents turned, running off out of Hooverville.
"Come back!" Solomon shouted. "We gotta stick together! It's not safe out there! Come back!"
The pig slaves began to invade Hooverville, attacking people who tried to escape.
"We need to get out of the park." Martha gulped.
"We can't!" The Doctor said, looking around frantically. "They're on all sides. They're driving people back towards us."
"We're trapped." Tallulah cried.
"Then we stand together." Solomon said before turning to the me. "Gather 'round. Everybody come to me. You there, Jethro, Harry, Seamus, stay together." The pig men forced themselves in, everyone in a tight circle by the fire. "They can't take all of us." He said as the men began to start fire.
"If we can just hold them off till daylight." Martha said desperately.
Zara looked up at the sky sadly, "Oh, Martha, they're just the foot soldiers." She muttered. Everyone else looked up, following her gaze.
"Oh, my God." Martha whispered as Jast flew across the sky towards them.
"What in this world—" Solomon began.
"It's the devil. A devil in the sky." The Sentry gulped. "God save us all. It's damnation."
"Oh yeah?" Frank asked, raising his gun at one of the Daleks, "We'll see about that!" He fired at its casing, leaving no damage, and Zara quickly pushed his rifle down.
"That's not gonna work." Zara sighed, squeezing Frank's arm.
"There's more than one of them." Martha mumbled, watching as Caan flew into view, firing into the middle of Hooverville, causing explosions and starting fires.
"The humans will surrender." Jast ordered.
"Leave them alone!" The Doctor shouted. "They've done nothing to you!" Solmon stepped forward to address the Daleks and Solomon grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "No, Solomon. Stay back."
"I'm told that I'm addressin' the Daleks, is that right?" Solomon asked. "From what I hear, you're outcasts, too."
"Solomon, don't."
"Doctor, this is my township, you will respect my authority." Solomon said to him, his eyes fixed on Thay and Jast. "Just let me try." He pushed past The Doctor. Zara watched nervously, pulling The Doctor back gently as he shook his head. "Daleks…ain't we all the same? Underneath, ain't we all kin?" He asked, setting his rifle down on the ground. "Cause, see, I've just discovered this past day God's universe is a thousand times the size I thought it was. And that scares me. Oh, yeah. Terrifies me. Right down to the bone. But it's got to give me hope…hope that maybe together we can make a better tomorrow. So I…I beg you now if you have any compassion in your hearts then you'll meet with us and stop this fight. Well…what do you say?"
"Exterminate!" Caan cried. Zara watched sadly as Caan fired a beam, Solomon's skeleton flashing blue through his skin before collapsing, dead.
"Oh, no!" Frank shouted as the inhabitants of Hooverville screamed and he rushed over to Solomon's side. "No! Solomon!"
"They killed him." Martha gasped. "They just shot him on the spot."
Zara bolted forward, "Daleks!" She shouted, arms out, staring up at the Daleks angrily. "All right, so it's my turn! Then kill me! Kill me if it'll stop you attacking these people!"
The Doctor watched, wide eyed, breath held. He couldn't let her do this. She was just some girl. Just some human girl that was in a way, dying, and needed the universe to heal her. To make her better. The Doctor had stolen away one of the most emotional and heartbroken little girls in the universe, who knew about everything, including everything that had ever tried to hurt the closest thing she had to a father - The Face Of Boe. And now, one of those things was here, in New York. He couldn't bare to think how angry she must have been. And now, he was just about to risk his life for some human woman... she'd better be worth it.
"Don't!" The Doctor shouted, pushing her out of the way and looking up at the Daleks.
"I will be the destroyer of our greatest enemy." Jast announced.
"Then do it! Do it! Just do it!" The Doctor screamed, beating on his chest. "Do it!"
"Extermin—" Jast began before stopping suddenly. "I do not understand. It is the Doctor." Zara shared a look with The Doctor. "The urge to kill is too strong." The two looked back to the Daleks. "I…obey."
"What's going on?" Zara asked with a frown.
"You will follow."
"No!" Martha gasped. "You can't go!"
"You've got to go!" Zara stressed. "The Daleks just changed their minds. Daleks never change their minds."
Martha looked at Zara, understanding. "But what about us?" She asked, gesturing to the people of Hooverville.
"One condition!" The Doctor called. "If I come with you, you spare the lives of everyone here! Do you hear me?"
"The humans will be spared." Jast replied. "Doctor, Zara…follow." Both The Doctor and Zara's eyes widened and the shared a look.
"What do you need me for?" Zara frowned.
"It has come to Dalek Sec's attention that you are some sort of a genius." Thay replied.
"Then I'm coming with you." Martha said, looking between the two of them.
"Martha, stay here. Do what you do best." The Doctor insisted.
Zara put her hand on Martha's arm, smiling softly at her, "People are hurt. You can help them. Let us go."
Martha sighed, nodding, and The Doctor smiled at her, turning and striding off after the Daleks.
"Look after him." Martha mumbled with a smile.
Zara nodded, following after the Doctor when he turned back to Martha.
"Oh, and can I just say, thank you very much." He said, gripping her hand with the both of his, shooting her a wink, sliding the psychic paper into her hand.
...
The Doctor and Zara were led into the Dalek lab and Zara rushed forward, glaring at Sec.
"Those people were defenceless!" She shouted as The Doctor gently pushed past her.
"You only wanted me," The Doctor said angrily. "But no, that wasn't enough for you! You had to start killing 'cause that's the only thing a Dalek's good for!"
"The deaths…" Sec began. "Were wrong."
Zara and The Doctor stared at him, stunned. "I'm sorry?"
"That man, their leader Solomon, he showed courage."
"And that's good?"
"That's excellent."
"Is it me or are you just becoming a little bit more human?" Zara asked, stepping forward, eyeing Sec closely.
Sec turned to The Doctor, "You are the last of your kind and now I am the first of mine."
"What do you want us for?" The Doctor asked taking Zara's hand and squeezing it.
"We tried everything to survive when we found ourselves stranded in this ignorant age. First we tried growing new Dalek embryos but their flesh was too weak."
"Yeah, we found one of your experiments." Zara muttered, staring at Sec darkly. "Just left to die out there in the dark."
"It forced us to conclude what is the greatest resource of this planet—its people." Sec lifted up a giant switch on the wall and the ceiling above them lit up, showing hundreds of human bodies lying suspended on medical beds in the air. He lifted another switch and one of the bodies lowered down, covered by a thin sheet. "We stole them. We stole human beings for our purpose. Look…inside." Zara gently pulled back the sheet and she and The Doctor stared down at the empty, grey man, laying with his eyes closed. "This…is the extent of the Final Experiment."
"Is he dead?" The Doctor asked.
Zara leaned forward, placing a hand on the man's temple before pulling back with a sharp breath, "Near death with his mind wiped ready to be filled with new ideas." She sighed.
"Dalek ideas."
"The Human-Dalek race." Sec confirmed.
"All of these people. How many?"
"We have caverns beyond this storing more than a thousand."
"Is there any way to restore them?" The Doctor asked Zara, clearly trusting his genius one-time companion more than Sec. "Make them human again?"
Zara sighed, shaking her head, "Everything they were has been lost." She said regretfully, before looking up at Sec, wanting to know more. "So they're like shells, yeah? You've got empty human beings ready to be converted. That's going to take a hell of a lot of power. This planet hasn't even split the atom yet. How're you gonna do it?"
"Open the conductor plan." Sec called and an animated plan flickered onto the screen in front of them.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." The Doctor nodded. "The Empire State Building. We're right underneath that. I worked that out already, thanks. But what, you hijacked the whole building?"
Sec nodded, "We needed an energy conductor."
"What for?"
"I…am the genetic template. My altered DNA was to be administered to each human body."
Zara nodded, impressed, "A strong enough blast of gamma radiation can splice the Dalek and human genetic codes and wake each body from its sleep." She explained to The Doctor, who watched her, stunned at how much of a genius she really was.
"Gamma radiation?" He frowned. "What are- Oh, the sun. You're using the sun."
"Soon…" Sec nodded. "The greatest solar flare for a thousand years will hit the Earth. Gamma radiation will be drawn to the energy conductor and when it strikes—"
"The army wakes." Zara said. "I still don't know what you need me for. You've got him." She whacked The Doctor in the arm nervously.
"Your genius. Consider a pure Dalek; intelligent but emotionless."
"Removing the emotions makes you stronger." Zara said sternly. "That's what your creator thought all those years ago."
"He was wrong." Sec said quickly.
The Doctor's eyes widened, "Davros was what?" Zara asked.
"It makes us lesser than our enemies. We must return to the flesh." Sec said simply as Thay, Jast and Caan looked round, concerned at his statement. "And also…the heart."
"You wouldn't be the supreme beings anymore." The Doctor frowned.
"And that is good."
"That is incorrect." Jast said.
"Daleks are supreme." Caan agreed.
"No," Sec shook his head. "Not anymore."
"But that is our purpose."
"Then our purpose is wrong! Where has our quest for supremacy led us? To this. Hiding in the sewers on a primitive world. Just four of us left. If we do not change now then we deserve extinction."
The Doctor shared a look with Zara before turning back to Sec, "So you want to change everything that makes a Dalek a Dalek."
"If…she can help me." Sec nodded at Zara. "I need the both of you, but... there's something about human genius. Your knowledge of genetic engineering is even greater than ours. The new race must be ready by the time the solar flare erupts."
"But you're the template. I thought they were getting a dose of you."
"I want to change the gene sequence."
"To make them even more human?" Zara asked softly.
"Humans are the great survivors. We need that ability."
The Doctor scoffed, "Hold on a minute. There's no way this lot are gonna let you do it."
"I am their leader."
The Doctor turned to the other Daleks, "Oh, and that's enough for you, is it?"
"Daleks must follow orders." Caan said.
"Dalek Sec commands, we obey." Jast agreed.
"If you don't help me…" Sec began. "Nothing will change."
"There's no room on Earth for another race of people." The Doctor sighed.
"You have your TARDIS. Take us across the stars. Find us a new home and allow the new Daleks to start again." He turned to Zara. "Miss Saxon, please
The Doctor looked over at Zara, who breathed in sharply, "When's that solar flare?" She asked.
"Eleven minutes."
"Right then." Zara sighed, shooting The Doctor an apologetic look. "Better get to work."
...
The Doctor peered at the equipment, looking around at the readouts as Zara stood opposite Sec, explaining everything to him energetically, much like The Doctor.
"There's no point in chromosomal grafting." Zara explained, putting her hand on Sec's shoulder. "It's too erratic. You need to split the genome and force the Dalek-human sequence right into the cortex."
Sec nodded, "We need more chromatin solution."
"The pig slaves have it." Jast announced as a group of pig slaves walked into the room, carrying a large crate, one of them being Lazlo.
The Doctor glanced over at Lazlo before turning to Sec, "These pig slaves, what happens to them in the grand plan?"
"Nothing. They're just simple beasts." Sec said. "Their lifespan is limited. None survive beyond a few weeks. Power up the engine feeds."
The Doctor nodded, moving over to Lazlo, pretending to be observing something, "Lazlo, I can't undo what they've done to you, but they won't do it to anyone else." He said quietly.
"Do you trust him?" Lazlo whispered as the two of them watched Zara pointing out something on the plans to Sec. I know that one man can change the course of history. Or..." He gulped, looking at Zara's hair against her back as she ran a hand through her hair. "One woman. Right idea in the right place at the right time is all it takes. I've got to believe it's possible."
"The line feeds are ready." Jast announced.
Zara looked up and rushed up to a bunch of tubes, picking up a syringe. "Then it's all systems go." She cheered.
"The solar flare is imminent." Sec said. "The radiation…will reach Earth in a matter of minutes."
"We'll be ready for it." The Doctor nodded, appearing behind Zara as she inserted the syringe into the main feeding tube, solution flowing through it.
"That compound will allow the gene bonds to reconfigure in a brand new pattern." Zara explained. "Power up!" She called and one of the pig slaves and Lazlo turned on a power switch.
"Start…the line feeds." Sec said.
One of the Daleks started the machinery and the solution began to move through the tubes.
"There goes the gene solution." The Doctor muttered.
"The life blood." Sec sighed as she solution coursed up to the bodies.
A klaxon filled the room and Zara looked around, horrified.
"What's that?" The Doctor asked.
"What's happening?" Sec demanded. "Is there a malfunction? Answer me!"
"No, no, no." Zara breathed. "The gene feed!" She looked over at the other Daleks. "They're overriding the gene feed!"
The Doctor rushed over to the controls, attempting to fix it.
"Impossible." Sec said. "They cannot disobey orders."
"Sure about that?" Zara asked.
"The Doctor will step away from the controls." Caan ordered, advancing towards him and The Doctor backed away.
"Stop! You will not fire."
"He is an enemy of the Daleks." Jast cried.
"And so are you." Caan said in agreement as the three Daleks turned their weapons on Sec, The Doctor and Zara.
"I am your commander." Sec said desperately. "I am Dalek Sec."
"You have lost your authority." Thay announced.
"You are no longer a Dalek." Caan agreed.
"What have you done with the gene feed?" Zara asked angrily.
"The new bodies will be 100% Dalek." Thay replied.
"No." Sec cried. "You can't do this!"
"Pig slaves, restrain Dalek Sec, Miss Saxon and the Doctor." Caan ordered.
Two pig slaves grabbed hold of Dalek Sec, and Lazlo grabbed one arm of The Doctor's and one of Zara's.
"Release me." Sec said sternly. "I created you. I am your master."
"Solar flare approaching."
"Prepare to intercept." Thay called.
The Daleks turned back to the machinery as the lift bell pinged behind them.
"There's the lift." Lazlo muttered.
"After you." The Doctor whispered. The three of them pushed their way clear, sprinting for the lift.
"The Doctor is escaping! Stop him! Stop him!" Caan cried and the pig slaves ran after them, only for the lift doors to shut.
"We've only got minutes before the gamma radiation reaches the Earth." Zara explained quickly.
"We need to get to the top of the building." The Doctor said in agreement.
Zara looked to her side, noticing Lazlo leaning against the lift wall breathlessly, "Lazlo, what's wrong?" She asked softly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Out of breath. It's nothing." Lazlo shrugged. "We've escaped them, Doctor, Zara. That's all that matters."
...
The lift doors pinged open and the three of them peered out into the top floor of the Empire State as Martha and Tallulah scrambled to her feet from the plans.
"Doctor, Zara!" Martha cried.
"First floor, perfumery." The Doctor joked as Zara ran out of the lift, pulling Martha into a hug.
"I never thought I'd see you again." Tallulah gasped, rushing over as Lazlo ran out, meeting halfway in a hug.
"No stopping me." Lazlo said.
Martha pulled out of the hug, grabbing Zara's hand whilst grabbing The Doctor's and pulling them over to the plans on the floor as Frank stepped back into the room.
"We worked it out. We know what they've done. There's Dalekanium on the mast." Martha explained before looking up at The Doctor. "And it's good to see you too, by thy way."
"Oh, come here." The Doctor grinned, grabbing Martha in a big hug, spinning her around. The bell on the lift dinged and he dropped her down, bolting over to the doors only for them to shut. "No, no, no. See, never waste time with a hug." He pulled out the sonic, trying to use it on the panel. "It's a deadlock seal. I can't stop it."
"Where's it going?"
"Right down to the Daleks." Zara groaned. "And they're not going to leave us alone up here. What's the time?"
"11:15." Frank said.
"Six minutes to go. "I've got to remove the Dalekanium before the gamma radiation hits." The Doctor muttered.
"Gammon radiation? What the heck is that?" Tallulah asked.
Martha led The Doctor outside, Tallulah, Lazlo and Zara following. The Doctor looked out down at the city.
"Oh, that's high." He muttered to Zara as she appeared next to him. "That's very- Blimey, that's high."
"And we've got to go even higher." Martha said before nodding up above them. "That's the mast up there, look. There's three pieces of Dalekanium at the base. We've got to get 'em off."
"That's not "we". That's just me."
"I won't just stand here and watch you."
"No, you're gonna have your hands full, anyway. I'm sorry, Martha, but you've got to fight." He sighed, quickly kissing Martha on the forehead, then Zara, before climbing up the scaffolding.
"Right." Zara gulped, looking back into the room. "Let's fight the pig men."
"Go after him." Martha said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Zara nodded, climbing up the scaffolding after The Doctor.
...
Zara pulled herself onto the deck, soaked by rain, and bolted over to The Doctor, yanking at the pieces of Dalekanium as The Doctor soniced them. She yanked off one piece before they moved on to the next piece. She pulled on the metal, her hand slipping against it from the rain. The Doctor soniced at it, before it slipped and the screwdriver fell off the edge. He leaned over, not being able to see it.
"What do we do now?" Zara shouted over the rain and thunder.
The Doctor stared back at her, breathing heavily, clueless. He glanced up at the thunder clouds, standing up.
"No!" Zara screamed as he grabbed hold of the mast just as the lightning struck. The lightning coursed down the mast, electrocuting the Doctor, making him scream out. Zara scrambled to her feet, trying to get to him, only to slip, falling against the decking and banging her head, unconscious. The Doctor let out one last scream before falling limply from the mast and to the floor.
...
Martha and Frank scrambled up by the mast, leaning over The Doctor.
"Doctor! Doctor!" Martha said, kneeling beside him. "Look what we found halfway down." She held out the sonic to him. "You're getting careless."
The Doctor groaned, "Oh my head."
"Hiya."
"Hi. You survived then."
"So did you. Just about."
The Doctor shot up, eyes wide, "Where's Zara?" He asked. Frank moved round to the other side of the mast, glancing at a unconcious Zara, blood tricking down one side of her face. He scrambled to his feet, moving round and looking down at her. He picked her up, carrying her bridal style as Martha watched, concerned. "Just unconscious."
Martha gulped, looking at the mast, "I can't help noticing….there's Dalekanium still attached."
The Doctor looked over, nervous.
...
"The Daleks will have gone straight to a war footing." The Doctor explained, hurrying through the top floor, carrying Zara. "They'll be using the sewers, spreading their soldiers out underneath Manhattan."
"How do we stop them?" Lazlo asked.
"There's only one chance. I got in the way. That gamma strike went zapping though me first."
"But what does that mean?" Martha asked.
"We need to draw fire. Before they can attack New York, I need to face them. Think, think, think, think. We need some sort of space, somewhere safe, somewhere out of the way." He span round, looking at Tallulah. "Tallulah!"
"That's me." Tallulah nodded. "Three Ls and an H."
"The theatre! It's right above them, and, what, it's gone midnight? Can you get us inside?"
"Don't see why not."
"Is there another lift?"
"We came up in the service elevator." Martha said, nodding across the room.
"That'll do. Allons-y!" He cheered, running over as Zara's eyes flickered open and he looked down at her, "You ok, genius?"
"Put me down, idiot." She mumbled.
...
Everyone made their way down the aisle slowly, looking around the darkened theatre. The Doctor put his arm around Zara's waist, keeping her up right as she walked.
"Doctor, I'm fine." She reassured him, whispering.
"This should do it." The Doctor said to everyone, ignoring Zara's last comment. "Here we go." He held Zara out to Martha, who took her hand and squeezed it. He reached into his pocket and took out the sonic, switching it on.
"There ain't nothin' more creepy than a theatre in the dark." Tallulah muttered. "Listen, Doctor, I know you got a thing for show tunes, but there's a time and place, hunh?" She asked as Lazlo fell into one of the chairs beside her. "Lazlo, what's wrong?" She gasped, sitting down next to him.
"Nothing." Lazlo said breathlessly. "It's just so hot."
"But…it's freezing in here. Doctor, what's happening to him?"
The Doctor put his ear to the sonic, listening, "Not now, Tallulah. Sorry."
"What are you doing?" Martha asked.
"If the Daleks are going to war, they'll wanna find their number one enemy." Zara explained. "He's just telling them where he is."
The Doctor held up the sonic in the air, switching it on, before looking back at Martha and Zara.
"You should go." He said.
"No way." Martha and Zara said in unison.
"I'm telling you to go. Frank can take you back to Hooverville."
"And I'm telling you I'm not going." Martha argued.
"Martha, that's an order."
Martha raised an eyebrow at him, "Who are you, then? Some sort of Dalek?"
Suddenly, the doors to the theatre burst open and the human Daleks marched in.
"Oh, my God!" Tallulah gasped. "Well I guess that's them then, hunh?"
"Humans…with Dalek DNA."
Frank moved forward to attack and The Doctor pulled him back, "It's all right. Just stay calm. Don't antagonize them." The Doctor said.
"But what about the Dalek masters?" Lazlo asked. "Where are they?"
Suddenly, an explosion set off on the stage and everyone ducked behind seats. The Doctor peered over as the smoke on stage cleared and Thay and Jast stood, Sec chained and on all fours. The Doctor slowly stood up as everyone peeked over the chairs.
"The Doctor will stand before the Daleks." Jast ordered. The Doctor stepped over, walking forwards on the backs of the chairs, stopping a few rows forward. "You will die, Doctor. It is the beginning of a new age."
"Planet Earth will become New Skaro." Thay agreed.
"Oh, and what a world." Zara called sarcastically.
"With anything just the slightest bit different ground into the dirt." The Doctor said in agreement.
"That's Dalek Sec." Zara stressed. "Don't you remember? The cleverest Dalek ever and look what you've done to him."
"Is that your new empire?" The Doctor asked.
"Hmm? Is that the foundation for a whole new civilization?"
"My Daleks…just understand this." Sec begged. "If you choose death and destruction, then death and destruction will choose you."
"Incorrect." Jast said. "We will always survive."
"Now we will destroy our greatest enemy, the Doctor." Thay agreed.
"But he can help you." Sec gasped.
"The Doctor must die." Jast cried.
"No, I beg you, don't." Sec begged, crawling in front of Jast.
"Exterminate!" Just as Jast fired Sec jumped up, falling to the floor.
"Your own leader." The Doctor said, disgusted. "The only creature who might have led you out of the darkness and you destroyed him."
Zara stared over, tears in her eyes, "I actually liked him." She spat. "A Dalek. He was trying to help, HE WAS TRYING TO DO GOOD!" She turned to the human Daleks. "Do you see what they did? Huh? You see what a Dalek really is?"
"If I'm gonna die, let's give the new boys a shot. What do you think, eh? The Dalek-Humans. Their first blood. Go on, baptize them." The Doctor said, holding his arms out.
"Dalek-Humans, take aim." Jast ordered and the Dalek-Humans cocked their weapons, aiming them at The Doctor.
"What are you waiting for? Give the command!"
"Exterminate!" Thay cried. The Doctor shut his eyes and Martha ducked her head against Frank's chest. Zara frowned, looking over at the Dalek-Humans who just stood, not doing anything. "Exterminate!"
"Obey. Dalek-Humans will obey." Jast ordered.
"Not firing." Martha said, looking over at The Doctor. "What have you done?"
"You will obey." Thay said. "Exterminate."
"Why?" The Dalek-Human at the front of the line asked, the same man who had been shown to Zara and The Doctor by Sec.
"Daleks do not question orders." Jast said.
"But why?"
"You will stop this."
"But…why?"
"You must not question."
"But you are not our master. And we…we are not Daleks."
"No, you're not, and you never will be." The Doctor said before turning back to Jast and Thay. "Sorry, I got in the way of the lightning strike. Time Lord DNA got all mixed up. Just that little bit of freedom."
"If they will not obey, then they must die." Thay cried, shooting at the Dalek-Human.
"Get down!" The Doctor shouted, ducking behind the seats with everyone else.
"Exterminate! Exterminate!" The Daleks shouted, shooting at the Dalek-Humans, who also shot back at them. They all peered over, watching over the seats as Thay was shot, the casing blown open, dead.
"Extermin—" Jast began, only to be shot dead.
The Human-Daleks stopped firing and everyone stood up, looking over as The Doctor jumped down, going over to one of the hybrids.
"It's all right. It's all right. It's all right." He said soothingly. "You did it. You're free."
Suddenly as the hybrids gripped their heads, screaming in pain.
"No!" Zara shouted, staring, horrified as they all dropped to the floor, dead. "They can't! They can't! They can't!"
Martha and Zara pushed past, joining The Doctor beside one of the bodies, "What happened?" Martha asked. "What was that?"
"They killed 'em." Zara breathed. "Rather than let them live. An entire species. Genocide."
"Only two of the Daleks have been destroyed." Lazlo said. "One of the Dalek masters must still be alive."
"Oh, yes." The Doctor said, standing up. "In the whole universe, just one."
...
The Doctor stood at one end of the lab, Zara behind him slightly, looking over at Caan, connected to the computer on the other side of the room.
"Now what?" The Doctor asked.
"You will be exterminated." Caan cried.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Just think about it, Dalek- What was your name?"
"Dalek Caan." Zara said.
The Doctor began to walk forward, "Dalek Caan. Your entire species has been wiped out. And now the Cult of Skaro has been eradicated. Leaving only you. Right now you're facing the only man in the universe who might show you some compassion. 'Cause I've just seen one genocide. I won't cause another. Caan…let me help you. What do you say?"
"Emergency Temporal Shift!" Cried, disappearing into thin air, leaving wires hanging. The Doctor charged forward, groaning loudly as Zara stared at the empty space with a sigh and Martha and Tallulah entered behind her, supporting Lazlo.
"Doctor! Doctor!" Martha called. "He's sick." The two of them lowered Lazlo to the floor and Tallulah cradled him on her lap as she breathed heavily, wheezing.
"It's okay. You're all right." Tallulah said soothingly.
Zara walked up to them, kneeling next to Lazlo.
"It's his heart." Martha said. "It's racing like mad. I've never seen anything like it."
"What is it, Zara?" Tallulah asked. "What's the matter with him? He says he can't breathe? What is it?"
"It's time, sweetheart." Lazlo wheezed.
"What do you mean "time"? What are you talking about?"
"None of the slaves …survive for long. Most of them only live a few weeks. I was lucky. I held on 'cause I had you. But now…I'm dyin', Tallulah."
"No you're not. Not now, after all this. Zara, can't you do somethin'?"
"Oh, Tallulah with three Ls and an H…" Zara sighed as The Doctor made his way past her, smiling slightly, knowing how much of a genius she was, and knelt down next to Lazlo. "Just you watch me." She grinned, jumping up. "What do I need? Oh, I don't know. How about a great big genetic laboratory? Oh look, I've got one. Lazlo, just you hold on." She ran around the lab, mixing up a solution as she spoke. "There's been too many deaths today. Way too many people have died. Brand new creatures and wise old men and age-old enemies. And I'm tellin' you, I'm tellin' you right now, I am not having one more death! Got that? Not one! Tallulah, out of the way." She laughed as The Doctor pulled out a stethoscope out of his pocket, putting it on. "The Doctor is in."
...
The group stood in the middle of Central Park, Lazlo bundled up in an overcoat and hat, when Frank jogged over with a smile.
"Well I talked to 'em and I told 'em what Solomon would've said and I reckon I shamed one or two of 'em." Frank began.
"What did they say?" The Doctor asked.
"They said yes." Tallulah smiled, hugging Lazlo. "They'll give you a home, Lazlo. I mean, uh, don't imagine people ain't gonna stare. I can't promise you'll be at peace but, in the end, that is what Hooverville is for, people who ain't got nowhere else."
"Thank you." Lazlo sighed. "I—I can't thank you enough."
...
Back on Liberty Island, Martha, Zara and the Doctor looked out at the Manhattan skyline.
"Do you reckon it's gonna work, those two?" Martha asked.
"I don't know." The Doctor shrugged. "Anywhere else in the universe, I might worry about them, but New York, that's what this city's good at. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, and maybe the odd pig-slave-Dalek-mutant-hybrid too."
Martha laughed, "The pig and the showgirl."
The Doctor smiled, "The pig and the showgirl." He and Zara said in unison. The two of them laughed, looking at each other.
"Just proves it, I suppose." Martha smirked, looking at Zara and The Doctor. "There's someone for everyone."
The Doctor looked away, looking back at the Manhattan skyline, "Maybe." He muttered.
The Doctor turned, walking back to the TARDIS with Zara and Martha following.
"Meant to say…sorry." Martha sighed.
"What for?"
"Just 'cause that Dalek got away. I know what that means to you. Think you'll ever see it again?"
The Doctor unlocked The TARDIS, "Oh yes." He nodded, and the three of them entered, pausing in the doorway. "One day."
...
The TARDIS relanded in the New New York alleyway and Novice Hame, sitting on the chair Martha left, looked up. Zara stepped out, and noticed Hame, letting out a sigh.
"It's ok." Hame smiled. "You've only been gone about 3 hours."
"It was only one trip." Zara said, shutting The TARDIS door and shutting it.
"So what happens now?"
"Travelling isn't for me." Zara lied. "I'm here to help rebuild New Earth." She smiled. "For Dad." Hame breathed in sharply, tears in her eyes, knowing Zara was like a daughter to her and Boe.
"No you're not." Hame replied sharply.
Zara stared back, confused, "What?"
"You get out there. And do him proud." She stood up, hugging Zara before walking off down the alleyway. She stopped at the door of the flyover, glancing back at Zara. "I love you, Zara." She gave her one last smile, opening the door and stepping out, shutting it behind her.
"I love you too, Mum." Zara mumbled, turning around as The Doctor stepped out of The TARDIS. "Well Doctor, it was fun."
"This is becoming a habit." The Doctor smiled softly.
"Goodbye Doctor." Zara laughed. "Pop by next time your on New Earth." She turned and walked off down the alleyway before turning back on her heel halfway down. "I was wrong."
"What about?"
"I don't think you do need Martha more than Rose." She said simply. "I know you do."
The Doctor breathed in sharply, giving her one last nod, before stepping back inside The TARDIS. Zara watched fondly as The TARDIS began to materialize away, knowing that she'd had fun on her one trip with The Doctor, but was certain she'd never see him again.