Dr Who : "To Forgive..."
Summary: On her (hopefully) redemption arc, Blissy meets her first challenge.
"On the Road Again..." Part XVIII...
"Report...!" the harsh, high-pitched Dalek tone on the speaker as Dalek Opru eyed the hologram of Dalek Kleb, serving in the Dalek parliament as what passed for War and Science Minister.
The two being merged as quite the same for the Dalek hive mind.
"Progress has been slow in studying the Temporal Anomalies of Trenzalore despite the intersharing of data which Dalek Belkar favors." A clear tone of disdain.
"You offer criticism of your Commander?! This is unacceptable without proof!"
Pause... "I make no criticism, but I disagree with Dalek Belkar's policy."
"That policy has maintained the Trenzalore treaty and prevented the Doctor from intervening!
"I was placed here to maintain surveillance! I am reporting as ordered!" Dalek Opru, in what passed with a Dalek as a somewhat nervous explanation.
"State your reasons for disagreement! Immediately!"
"Slow progress. Encouragement of others to gain knowledge which should be reserved to the Dalek race. Tolerance of Gallifrean Time Lords' presence, now increased by two! And conduct unbecoming a Dalek!" the last in the equivalent of quivering rage.
"1) Considered but insufficient. Progress has been made! 2) Agreed. But necessary in light of the treaty obligations!" 3) Disturbing but previously accepted for the benefit of the Dalek race through acquired knowledge! But further disturbance via the increase in Time Lords! But Dalek Belkar has made the Parliament and myself aware!"
I'm losing my case, Dalek Opru realized.
"And 4) what conduct which is unbecoming to the Dalek race?" Dalek Kleb, sternly...Even for a Dalek.
"Treatment of other species as equals! Isolation for his own purposes! Conferences with the mutant Sydney to which other Daleks are barred." Dalek Opru insisted.
"1) Unfortunate but cleared by the Parliament to allow fulfilment of the Trenzalore treaty! 2) Disturbing! But Dalek Belkar is Commander. This will be reviewed! 3) Disturbing. State the nature of the conversation!"
Pause... "Other Daleks were barred, the conversation was not overheard!"
"Unacceptable! In future record all such conversations! Is this all for your statement?!"
Really losing my case...
"Dalek Sydney has been developing relationships with the humans and other species including the Time Lords!"
Yeah, that'll...
"Dalek Sydney is an exception! Relationships with humans and other species has been of benefit according to the report of Commander Belkar!"
Uh-oh...
"What sort of relationships have been developed?!" if human, it would have been a tone of suspicious curiosity.
"Friendly, polite, exchanging ideas not related to the mission." A touch of nervousness.
This has not been going so well as I expected...
"Disturbing but within Dalek Sydney's special mandate! He is an exception. The parliament has allowed this for the greater good of the Dalek race!"
"Knowledge exchange has exceeded his mandate!"
"Proof! Immediately!"
"Conversation with the Doctor's declared mate, Dr. River Song. Trenzalore date year 1265, the ninth month, the fourth day, the fifth hour..."
A holographic display of River with Dalek Sydney in a section of the Christmas town square plaza, discreetly hidden from most but clearly not all prying eyes...
"So, you think a Reality Matrix could be involved here?" River eyed Sydney. "Isn't that a banned weapon, banned since the Time War. If it even really exists."
"Not by those who fought the War, my dear." Sydney noted. "And my researches and compilations of the data available suggest some patterns match the theoretical structure of such a matrix."
"There are only a few races capable of that kind of manipulation, Sydney."
"Indeed." Sydney replied. "Really only one, at least present here. I must confess even we Daleks lack such ability."
"Cease display!" Dalek Kelb cried. "No further insult to the Dalek race will be tolerated!"
Wasn't me...Dalek Opru thought, nervously, the holographic images vanishing.
"Why was this knowledge not transmitted by Dalek Belkar to the Parliament?!" Dalek Kelb, clearly enraged now.
"Dalek Sydney did not transmit it to Dalek Belkar." Dalek Opru, quietly...For a Dalek.
Ok...Back on track...
"Unacceptable." Icy rage, for a Dalek. "Dalek Sydney has exceeded his mandate. Dalek Belkar has allowed him too much latitude! However..."
However...Inward sigh by Dalek Opru.
"The Parliament must consider this. For the moment continue to monitor and report. Report! REPORT!"
"Yes, Dalek Kleb."
"Remember that your other charges are not accepted as yet. Should the Parliament rule Dalek Belkar is acting within his command sphere, you may be considered as having committed insubordination!"
"Yes, Dalek Kleb."
Oh, well...Where there's no immediate termination, there's...
"If the Parliament rules he has failed in his command duties, he will face possible removal and extermination!"
"And Dalek Sydney?"
"Dalek Sydney is a special case! His action is condemned by me! But must be considered separately by the Parliament! Continue as instructed! But be correct and do not falsify any information!"
Wait, what?
"Your generation has a high degree of ambition. This is acceptable but must not interfere with the progress of the Dalek race! Falsification to achieve goals has been noted previously in your generation!"
Ummn...Well, maybe in one or two or four or more cases...But...
"I have not falsified! I will not falsify!"
"That will be determined. Continue as ordered, Dalek Opru. Communication over." The holograph disappeared.
The thanks one gets...Inward sigh.
Still the prize is worth taking some insults, Dalek Opru reflected...As much as his generation Dalek series could.
...
The Dalek capital...
"Ambitious little prick..." Dalek Clos, brilliant and talented assistant to Dalek Kleb noted, having monitored Dalek Opru's transmission.
"Yes. And dangerously so...But he has a point." Dalek Kleb, audible sigh in tone. "Much as I want to back Dalek Belkar and appreciate Dalek Sydney's eccentric brilliance...The political consequences must be considered. If the Parliament should hear from Dalek Opru, from another source..."
"And you know he has other contacts..." Dalek Clos, shaking stalk.
"That kind and generation always have 'friends'. And while having me as one has kept him on a leash, sooner or later he will bypass me. And our foes in Parliament will capitalize on his information."
"There are many who oppose our generation and new ideas, let alone those of Sydney's." Dalek Clos, almost with a wryly humorous air.
"Yes. They think if they exterminate us all, the Golden Age will surface and the Doctor will fall. Or he'll become our ally...I find them quite confused on that at times." Dalek Kleb, with what would be, in a human, a sardonic tone.
"You'd sacrifice Belkar and Sydney, at such a critical time?" Dalek Clos, what would be a worried tone in a human.
"It might be impossible to avoid it. And they knew the risks. After all, in the end, the key thing is to prevent anyone from completing a full Reality Matrix...The Reality Temple. If we're all dead..." Dalek Kleb lowered stalk. "If I can protect them I will but they knew what might have to be done, to save us all..."
"The Reality Temple...The most potentially dangerous technology in all of space and time. Worse even than the Time Lords' Moment. Does it even exist outside theory?" Dalek Clos asked.
"Someone may wish it to. That is Dalek Sydney's fear." Dalek Kleb sighed...As much as a Dalek could.
"And the Master, in her current form, may be the key?" Dalek Clos fixed his visual sensor on Kleb.
"Sydney was convinced. And Belkar believes him. And sadly, we can't risk acting prematurely. Even a stable Reality Temple might be safer than an unstable Master in control of such power to reshape all of Reality. Poor child, she seems well-intentioned, by Sydney's report." Shake of dome and stalk. "Well, for now, lets hope fear and hope of gain keeps Dalek Opru on his leash for now. But we must be ready, my friend. For the good of all, even non-Daleks."
...