'I have no intention of killing you, Doctor. Or,' he added, the eyestalk moving to take in Sam, 'your companion.'

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. 'That's a bit of a change from your usual policy, isn't it?' he asked. 'You know shoot first, interrogate the remains later?'

'Yes,' agreed the Dalek Prime. 'However, circ.u.mstances have changed. The next time we meet, I shall probably exterminate you.'

'Oh, good,' the Doctor replied. 'I was starting to get worried that you'd discovered religion, or something, and wanted to convince me you had reformed.'

'Nothing of the kind, Doctor,' the Dalek Prime answered. 'Do you desire refreshment?'

The Doctor blinked again. 'Better not,' he decided. 'Somehow the notion of sitting down to tea and crumpets with you does awfully strange things to my mind. Couldn't we just get down to your explaining what is going on?'

'As you wish.' The Dalek Prime moved forward, revealing two tall stools behind him. 'Sit down. You will be more comfortable.'

'This is very worrying,' the Doctor muttered to Sam as they accepted the invitation. 'The next thing you know, he'll be playing musak.' Once they were seated, though, he looked to their host. 'I have a lot of questions, starting with the obvious one. How come this planet still exists?'

'You allude to the Hand of Omega?' the Dalek Prime asked.

'Yes. When Davros used it, I was under the distinct impression it had annihilated Skaro.'

The Dalek Prime paused for a second. Sam had the distinct feeling that the Doctor had somehow surprised him.

'There was no mention of your role in the records.'

'The records?' The Doctor nodded to himself. 'So I was correct in my a.s.sumption, then? That you learnt about the Hand of Omega during your invasion of Earth?'

Sam nudged him in the ribs. 'Invasion?' she asked.

'Yes, Sam,' the Doctor replied. 'Actually, the Daleks have invaded Earth several times, mostly long after your era. In fact, they conquered Earth in the 22nd century. They managed to batter down the human race severely at that time, and occupied a large slice of the globe. While they were in charge of London, they raided the Ministry of Defence vaults and discovered that the Hand of Omega had been on Earth in 1963.'

'Correct,' the Dalek Prime confirmed. 'As a matter of precaution, we scanned the records for anything relating to Daleks. It was possible that the humans had developed some stealth weapons to use against us. We found no such weapons, but there were entries relating to two previous human contacts with the Daleks.'

'The Styles business and the Hand of Omega,' said the Doctor. His eyes narrowed. 'And what did your researches uncover?'

'That Davros was on Earth and utilised the Hand of Omega to destroy Skaro,' the Dalek Prime answered. 'There was no mention of your involvement.'

The Doctor leaned over to whisper to Sam, 'That was the work of my last incarnation. He wiped most references to me from the computer records. He was a paranoid chap at times, but then often with good reason.'

The Dalek Prime paused. 'The information that Davros was still alive caused some concern,' it admitted.

'But not as much as the news that he was going to destroy Skaro, I'll wager,' the Doctor guessed. 'I'm starting to see what you must have done next. You waited on the information to see what would happen to your invasion. When that was foiled, you then used your nascent time-travel abilities to attempt to change the results of that failure, creating a parallel timeline. That also failed. That failure made you more cautious about attempting to interfere with time, while alerting you to the fact that such alteration was theoretically possible.'

'Correct,' the Dalek Prime admitted. 'It became clear that we could not save Skaro by travelling back to Earth year 1963 and stopping Davros. Our unit was therefore sent back to ensure that his plan succeeded, but without his realising it.'

'Ah-ha,' the Doctor said, snapping his fingers. 'But to ensure the ultimate failure of his plan, you led him to believe that Antalin was actually Skaro.'

'Affirmative,' the Dalek Prime agreed. 'When we discovered that Davros would be resurrected, a search was conducted for his remains. They were discovered buried deep within the old Kaled bunker in suspended animation. This was unexpected.'

'I imagine it was, since you tried to b.u.mp him off and claim the imperial throne for yourself.' The Doctor shook his head. 'Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.'

'We knew that Davros would believe that he was on Skaro when he awakened,' the Dalek explained. 'His memories were altered, and Antalin was prepared to match his implanted memories.'

'Close enough to Skaro to match in many details,' the Doctor mused. 'And the inhabitants of Antalin?'

'It was necessary to render the surface sterile and radioactive,' the Dalek Prime answered.

'In other words, you murdered the lot of them.' The Doctor glared angrily at his foe, and then turned to Sam. 'Still think they're more civilised than the Thals?'

Sam just stared at the creature they were facing. 'They wiped out an entire civilisation just to trick Davros?'

'Yes,' the Doctor answered sombrely. 'And when I arrived, it fooled me, too.' He put his head in his hands, and muttered to himself. 'That wretched randomiser I'd put in. I never checked... but it felt so familiar...' He shook his head. 'You know, I recently told Davros that he fooled himself by wishful thinking. Could I really have done the same myself? I never asked why, if that world was Skaro, the Daleks had simply abandoned it. I simply took it for granted that they had. But then the unexpected happened, didn't it?' he asked the Dalek Prime. 'The Movellans arrived and tried to take possession of Davros to help fight a better war against you.'

'Incorrect,' the other answered. It stared at the Doctor, obviously challenging him.

'Incorrect?' he repeated, puzzled. 'But which part?'

'All of it,' the Dalek Prime responded.

The Doctor considered this reply for a moment, and then slapped his forehead with his palm. 'What are you asking me to believe?' He clenched his fists. 'That the Daleks needed Davros to believe he'd been awakened because he was needed? That they appealed to his ego, as their creator, showing him a situation where he and only he could save them? They were at war with the Movellans, and caught in a deadly impa.s.se. This disaster made perfect sense to Davros, and he exploited it for his own ends. But you're telling me now... that it wasn't true?' His voice tailed off, and when he spoke again, his voice barely more than a whisper, Sam thought he sounded for all the world like a lost little child. 'That there was was no war?' no war?'

'I am not asking you to believe. I merely impart knowledge.'

'You want me to believe, or you wouldn't be telling me.' The Doctor stared into the Dalek Prime's eyepiece. The Dalek said nothing, as the Doctor continued. 'The Movellans are a robotic race, defined by logic, but astonishingly weak in many areas. I never asked myself, who built the Movellans?' He shook his head. 'The Daleks?'

Again, the Dalek Prime said nothing. 'So following your argument...' The Doctor began to pace around. 'The Movellans are the Dalek concept of what a humanoid is like. And the Movellan out there in the control room hasn't been reprogrammed he's simply obeying his orders. The Daleks created a false emergency simply to make Davros believe that they had wakened him because they needed him. They manipulated him totally, and I unwittingly helped them in their plan. But then Davros was taken off to Earth for trial...' He sighed. 'By the humans that the Daleks brought to Skaro in the first place.' He gazed at the Dalek Prime. 'It's certainly a staggeringly ingenious scheme. You ensured that Davros would be captured and taken to Earth. Then you arranged for him to be sprung from prison and given access to the time-travel technology he needed to go back in time to the 1960s and obtain the Hand of Omega.'

The Dalek Prime took up the story. Sam frowned. This was getting like Jackanory Jackanory. 'But Davros refused to follow the plan. We manufactured the false information that the Movellans had won their non-existent war with us, thinking that this would prompt him to seek the ultimate weapon. Instead, he began constructing his own race of Daleks.'

'At Tranquil Repose, yes,' said the Doctor, thinking back. 'So you helped shut down that operation,' the Doctor continued, 'and threatened to return him to Skaro for trial. He escaped so conveniently again, and then he elected to go for the Hand. He ma.s.sed all of his Dalek army on Skaro or whatever planet it was and then I tricked him into using the Hand, wiping out his forces.' He shook his head in astonishment. 'Complex... brilliant... nasty, vicious and unprincipled. But true?'

Again, the Dalek Prime simply stared at him.

The Doctor shook his head. 'All simply to stop Davros from destroying your home world. I never realised you were so attached to it.'

'You still do not understand fully, Doctor,' the Dalek Prime informed him. 'It was only partially to safeguard Skaro that the plan was evolved, to preserve our war factories and manufacturing industries that are here. Losing them would hamper our plans. But there is more to the deception than simply the salvation of Skaro.' He started to move to the huge gla.s.s window. 'Come with me, Doctor.'

Though she hadn't been asked the Dalek no doubt considered her to be insignificant Sam went along as well. They all gazed out across the Dalek city. Despite her feeling of revulsion for the Daleks, Sam had to admit that it was a very impressive place. Hundreds of Daleks were moving about the pathways, and many in hoverbouts filled the air.

'Here is the heart of the Dalek empire,' the Dalek Prime stated. 'You can see a number of Daleks at work. But which of them are loyal only to me?'

'So that's it,' the Doctor said. He turned to Sam, a grim smile on his lips. 'Now we get to the real reason for this whole elaborate charade. Power politics.'

'I don't understand, Doctor,' Sam admitted. Her brain was throbbing under the influx of information.

'It's very simple, Sam. Before the resurrection of Davros, the Dalek Prime was the sole undisputed leader of the Daleks. But once Davros was reawakened, their creator had returned. Some Daleks obviously feel that they should still be loyal to their creator. Which means that the Dalek Prime here isn't undisputed leader any longer. And that's one thing that the Daleks can't stand. They need a single claw to guide them.'

Sam caught on. 'Like the old joke about the Second Coming putting the Pope out of a job.'

'Quite. Davros is back, and the Dalek Prime has to deal with it.' His eyes narrowed. 'But how will this help your cause?' he asked the Dalek. 'Flushing out the traitors?'

'Partially,' the Dalek Prime agreed. 'Certain Daleks loyal to Davros have been allowed access to him. They have suggested he make a play for power.'

'Which you will then crush,' the Doctor said.

'No,' the Dalek Prime answered. 'The attempted revolution will be allowed to take place. Those who deviate from my law will be exposed and annihilated. I allowed Davros to go through with his foolish plan to utilise the Hand of Omega so that all Daleks would see that his madness could have led to their destruction. They must see that he is unstable and unworthy to lead them.'

'And what if they don't?' the Doctor asked quietly. 'What if they still decide that they prefer Davros to you? You're gambling on this revolution failing so that you can eliminate the rebels and purify your race for you. But what if it succeeds?'

'That is why I have spared your life, Doctor,' the Dalek Prime replied. 'I have run an extensive computer simulation of the forthcoming rebellion. There is a thirty-nine-percent chance that Davros will succeed.'

The Doctor shrugged. 'The odds are still in your favour.'

'Yes. But I cannot rely on winning. Therefore I need another weapon. You.'

The Doctor glared down at the Dalek Prime. 'I will never work for you,' he said coldly. 'There is nothing that you can offer or threaten that would make me do your dirty work for you.' His eyes widened. 'Is that why you spared the Thals? To use them as leverage against me?'

'Correct, Doctor.' The eye stalk stared unwaveringly at him. 'Their lives are hostage to your behaviour. But I do not think it will come to that. What I require of you, I believe you will willingly give.'

'No.' The Doctor almost shouted the word, and shook his head.

'You will. If Davros's revolution succeeds, Doctor,' the Dalek Prime replied, 'you are to kill Davros before he can regain control of the Daleks.' There was a slight pause. 'Surely you will agree that this is a logical request that you can comply with? You have been willing to kill Davros in the past.'

The Doctor considered the point for a moment. 'Yes, I have considered it as an option,' he agreed. 'But for my reasons, not yours. I'm no hired a.s.sa.s.sin.'

'Then kill him for your own reasons,' the Dalek Prime intoned. 'It is of no consequence to me. My only concern is that Davros should not live to make use of his victory.'

The Doctor hesitated. 'Give me a minute to consider.'

'You may take as long as you wish,' the Dalek Prime answered. 'I will check on progress and return shortly. Speak with your companion, and give me your decision when I return.' He started to move away, and then its head swivelled to look back at them. 'If you agree, I will order your release and the return of the TARDIS to you. You will be allowed to leave Skaro unharmed.'

'And if I refuse?'

'You will not refuse,' the Dalek Prime said with finality. He glided out of the room, and the door closed behind him.

The Doctor threw himself down on to a ledge beside the window, staring out across the city below. Sam joined him, wondering what to say to him, knowing he must be in turmoil. He gestured out of the window. 'The first time I came to Skaro, I saw a similar view to this,' he confided in her. 'Only then it was of Thals approaching the Dalek city. I was forced to make a decision then, too should I help a race of people I barely knew, even though so doing would put my granddaughter and myself in greater jeopardy?' He smiled at her. 'Fortunately, I had with me two people from your world. They refused to consider the danger a factor, and believed firmly that they had to help. I learnt a lot from them.' Abruptly, he asked, 'What would you do in my shoes, Sam?'

'Flop about a lot,' she answered. 'Mine are a lot smaller.' She managed a thin smile. 'Doctor, is Davros really the menace to the universe that you've made out?'

'Undoubtedly.'

'Well, you said you'd considered it before,' she pointed out. 'If you were willing to do it then, why not now?'

'Because then it was my decision,' he replied. 'If I agree to do it for the Dalek Prime, I'm a Dalek agent.'

'But you're going to agree anyway, aren't you?' she realised.

'I have to,' he answered. 'Because there are a lot of other factors involved here. The Daleks would undoubtedly start executing you, Chayn, and the Thals until they forced me to agree. I can't put Davros's twisted existence above yours and theirs.'

An age seemed to pa.s.s. The door slid open, and the Dalek Prime moved into the room. 'Events are unfolding as antic.i.p.ated,' he reported. 'Have you reached a decision yet?'

'Yes,' the Doctor replied, his voice devoid of emotion. 'I've decided to accept your offer. Set us free, and I promise I will kill Davros if his revolution succeeds.'

'Good. I knew you would be reasonable, Doctor.' The Dalek Prime turned away again. 'As soon as Davros strikes, I will have you and your companion escorted back to the TARDIS. Until then, rest. I will send in any refreshments that you may need.'

'And the Thals,' the Doctor pressed. 'They must be freed, too.'

'No, Doctor,' the Dalek Prime answered. 'I still have use for them. They will remain on Skaro. The bargain applies only to the two of you. That is not negotiable.' It left the room again.

'Not negotiable?' the Doctor echoed. 'If it thinks I'm leaving them here, it really doesn't know me very well.' He gave Sam a grin. 'It looks like it's up to us to save the day, as usual.'

'I'm game,' Sam agreed. 'We'll take them all on. And we'll win.'

'I hope so,' the Doctor agreed. 'I hope so.'

CHAPTER 9.

TRIAL AND ERRORS.

Davros brooded. From the contacts he had made already, it appeared that there was a severe split in the Dalek race. He had been informed that many were ready to fight for his cause, to reinstate him as their undisputed leader. It felt good to know that, even after so long, he still had followers who acknowledged his right to rule.

But were there enough of them to win in the inevitable battle with the Dalek Prime? And how high up did his support go? One of the Black Daleks had been to see him, claiming to be on his side. But was that a ruse to test him, or the truth? None of the Gold Daleks seemed to back him, which made sense. They were in virtual command now, and their powers would be minimal if Davros took over. The problem was that they were the brightest and best of the Dalek Prime's supporters. A few intellects of their calibre would have been a great help to Davros's cause.

Still, he was prepared to act with whatever forces he possessed. Even if he couldn't beat the Dalek Prime in a straight fight, there was the possibility of capturing a number of killcruisers and fleeing the Skaro system to begin again somewhere new.

The Skaro system? Was he starting to believe the absurd stories he had been told about some gigantic plot by the Dalek Prime to discredit and destroy him? Davros knew this had to be a lie. Skaro was dead, destroyed by his own hand and Omega's. The Dalek Prime was simply spreading propaganda that only the credulous Daleks could possibly believe. Davros knew from his own memories that the world he had shattered was his own. Nothing anyone told him would ever convince him otherwise.

The important things now were timing and targets. When would be the best time to strike? And where should he have his forces move? The s.p.a.ceport was essential; he needed a method of retreat, and also the certainty that the Dalek Prime couldn't bring in further supporters. The Black Dalek had been a.s.signed to take this target when the command was given. The control room for the city, too, was a vital target.

The door opened, and a Spider Dalek entered. These were one of his stranger designs, but effective, and he was pleased to see that they were still in existence. Many of the Spiders were in his camp, he was pleased to see. This one strode across the room to join him.

'The Dalek Prime has announced that the trial will begin in four time units,' it informed him. 'The sentence of death against you has already been recorded, and will be administered once the trial is over.'

Davros considered this news. Clearly, the revolution would have to begin shortly. 'Alert our allies,' he informed the Spider. 'The start of the trial will mark the commencement of the plan. But no one is to strike until the trial concludes. If the Dalek Prime wishes this farce to be played out on a public stage, then I think we should allow him his final pleasure. We shall play it out for all the Daleks to see! Let them choose who they will follow. The future is ours! I shall perfect the Dalek race, and we will go on to become the dominant species of the entire universe!' His voice had risen to a grating crescendo. He lowered it. 'However, do you know how the Dalek Prime intends to execute me?'

'Matter dispersal,' the Spider Dalek informed him.

'A tidy solution,' Davros agreed slowly. 'So, then, there is one further service you may perform for me.'

'As you command.'