AT LAST MY COLLEGE ESSAY IS DONE HUZZAH!

So, apologies in advance if this one isn't very good. All my focus has been on the essay.

Clara meets the new teacher, and getting inside someone's head is no longer a metaphor.

Enjoy "Into the Dalek!"

***

"Wanda, I know you think this is serious," Jessie sighed as Wanda once again made her case. "But no, I am not putting red in my hair to match the Doctor's jacket."

"But then it would match!" Wanda protested as the Doctor shook his head fondly from where he was monitoring signals outside of the TARDIS, Pietro snickering.

"Yes, but then the entire outfit would have to as well, and I don't think dark navy is exactly my color."

There was a crackle of static, then a young woman's panicked voice came over the scanner. "Aristotle, this is Wasp Delta, do you hear me? Stay with me, Kai! Stay with me, please. Aristotle! We have been hit! Major damage. Aristotle! Aristotle! The enemy are right on top of us!"

The Doctor sprang into action, running around the console to lock onto the signal. "Space fighter," he said as Jessie ran to check the scanner. "Can't tell what the enemy is."

"Got her," Jessie reported, sending the TARDIS off.

A young woman with short hair and in a flight suit appeared before the console, her eyes squeezed shut, she screaming. Abruptly, she cut off, opening her eyes. "Hello," Wanda greeted.

She sprang to her feet and pulled out a gun, pointing it right at the Doctor, the one closest to her. Wanda abruptly raised a hand, but the Doctor just nodded. "You'll probably feel a bit sick. Please, don't be."

"Where's my brother?" the woman demanded.

"Hello. I'm the Doctor. That's the Bad Wolf, and these are the Maximoffs."

"He was right beside me! Where's Kai? How did I get here?"

"We materialized a time capsule exactly round you and saved your life one second before your ship exploded, but do please keep crying," the Doctor sighed.

"Sometimes, not everybody lives," Jessie said quietly. "Why don't you put the gun down."

"Or what?"

"Or you might shoot someone."

"That would not be good," Wanda remarked. "Because then where would you be?"

"In charge of your vessel," the woman retorted.

The Doctor snorted. "You'd starve to death trying to find the light switch. Who are you?"

"I'm Lieutenant Journey Blue of the Combined Galactic Resistance," she answered. "I demand you take me back to my command ship, the Aristotle, which is currently located - "

"No," the Doctor shook his head. "Hey, not like that."

Journey narrowed her eyes. "You will take me back to my command ship, which is currently positioned - "

"What's the magic word?" Pietro sang.

Journey huffed, then lowered her gun. "Will you take me back to my ship? Please?"

The Doctor nodded, going around the console. "The Aristotle's the big fella parked in the asteroid belt, yeah?"

"It's shielded!" Journey's eyes widened.

"More or less," the Doctor shrugged as the TARDIS dematerialized.

Jessie smiled encouragingly at Journey. "Be brave, yeah?"

***

The five of them exited the TARDIS, and Journey did a double take when she saw the TARDIS. "It's smaller on the outside!"

The Doctor sighed. "It's a bit more exciting when you go the other way." He paused, frowning when he saw something. "This isn't a battleship. Medical insignia. It's a hospital."

"We don't need hospitals now," a man with a greying beard said as he walked up, armed soldiers behind him. "The Daleks don't leave any wounded, and we don't take any prisoners."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "We saved your little friend here, if that's in any way relevant to mention."

"That's true, sir," Journey nodded. "They did."

"Thank you," the man told the Doctor.

"You're welcome," the Doctor nodded.

"We just wish we could've done more," Jessie looked at Journey, remembering her brother.

"Then you should have," the man said.

The Doctor narrowed his eyes. "OK . . . "

"But you did save Journey, and for that, I am personally grateful."

"Well - "

"However, the security of this base is absolute, so we're still going to kill you."

Pietro snorted as guns were aimed at them. "Blimey, the man's a bigger roller coaster than you, Doctor."

"Oi!" the Time Lord glared.

"Shoot them, bag them, and throw them outside," the man ordered.

"No!" Journey ran forward to stop the man, the Doctor and Wanda taking a few steps back as Jessie and Pietro moved forward, red energy sparking at Wanda's fingertips, the Doctor hiding one hand behind his back, conjuring a fireball. "Stop!"

"I'm sorry, they might be duplicates," the man shook his head.

"He's a doctor," Journey insisted. "And we have a patient, don't we, Uncle?"

The man narrowed his eyes, then sighed and waved his men down. "Come with us."

Journey nodded at them, and the four followed Journey's uncle and his men down the corridors. "Why does a hospital need a doctor?" the Doctor asked.

"The Aristotle wasn't always hidden," the man answered. "The Daleks got here before us."

Journey frowned, noting the Doctor scowling at a few soldiers. "You don't like soldiers much, do you?"

"You don't need to be liked. You've got all the guns."

Jessie sighed, taking his hand as Journey looked offended. "Take it easy, Doctor."

"Hard not to when you had a gun pointed right in your face."

Jessie squeezed his hand. "I would have been fine."

He sighed, squeezing her hand back. "I know."

"What is that?" Pietro asked suddenly.

The Doctor turned to look as they entered a lab area, and his eyes brightened when he saw a long, clear tube with bench seats inside, large enough for someone to sit in. "Wow!" he grinned. "A moleculon nanoscaler!"

"You know what it does, then?" Journey asked.

"It miniaturizes living matter," he nodded. "What's the medical application, though? Do you use it to shrink the surgeons so they can climb inside the patients?"

"Exactly," the man nodded.

"So you are going to miniaturize him?" Wanda frowned.

"He's a doctor, isn't he?" the man asked as he opened a pair of security doors. "And this is his patient."

Jessie gasped in horror, barely able to see a scratched eyepiece glow blue before the Doctor's hands grabbed her and yanked her behind him. "No, you don't understand," he shook his head as Pietro and Wanda stepped to either side of Jessie, staring in shock at who the soldiers wanted the Doctor to help. "You can't put us in there!"

"Doctor?" the battered Dalek asked as it flickered to life.

***

"How were the Cadets today, Miss Tyler?" the secretary at Coal Hill asked as a blonde woman walked in, finishing pinning her hair out of her face.

"Fleming thinks he's funny," Rose Tyler answered with a grin as she went to check time tables.

"Was he?"

"Yeah, I think he was, too." She paused, noting the dark-skinned man dressed in shirt and tie watching her with interest. "Oh, new teacher, then?"

"Er, yes," he nodded, holding out a hand. "Danny Pink."

"Rose Tyler," she answered with a nod. "You're taking maths?"

"Yes, and you're PE, yeah?"

"That's me," Rose nodded as they walked out of the secretary office.

"Yeah, I saw you this morning, working with . . . who were they?"

"Oh, the Coal Hill Cadet Squad," Rose nodded, grinning. "Half of them just like me, and I think the other half just want to see how long I'll last with them."

"And how long's it been?"

"Few months already," Rose said cheerily.

"Er . . . " Danny shuffled on his feet. "Would you like another chaperone? I could help."

"Army man?" Rose asked before wincing as Danny's eyes darkened. "'M sorry, that was uncalled for."

"Once," Danny admitted.

"Same," Rose nodded. "Not exactly army, but I've fought. Don't worry, I get where you're coming from. Tell you what, I bet Clara wouldn't judge, either."

"Who?"

"Oh, have you not met her yet? Clara Oswald, she's one of the English teachers here. I think you'd get along well."

***

Clara smiled later as she watched Danny thump his head on his desk. "You're trying to play matchmaker," she accused Rose quietly.

"All I said was 'you'd get along well,'" Rose held up her hands. "I didn't say you had a boyfriend."

Clara shook her head fondly, walking into Danny's classroom. "Is the wooden sound you or the desk?" she joked.

Danny paused and looked up sheepishly. "How long have you been there?"

"Longer than you would like," she admitted.

"OK," he looked down.

Clara sighed. "Look, I can't go to Cathy's leaving, either," she shot a look back at Rose, who smiled innocently. "I'm already meeting up with a few other friends." Well, more like her boyfriend and his sister, who was becoming more like her sister as well. "But please, don't look that terrified when you come with Rose and I for drinks."

Rose's eyes widened, but Danny cleared his throat. "I - I absolutely promise I won't."

"Play your cards right, and you might," Clara turned on her heel and walked out, giving Rose a look. "That is what you get for trying to set me up."

"But drinks night is our night!" Rose complained as they walked off.

"Should have thought of that before you mentioned my name to him," Clara stuck her tongue out at her with a laugh before heading for the supply closet. "Have a good night!"

"And you!" Rose responded, walking on to leave.

Clara entered the supply closet and paused, smelling coffee. She considered the cup behind held out to her, then looked up at Pietro, who was grinning. "Hello."

"Gorgeous man," Clara sighed in relief, taking her cup and kissing his cheek. "But where the hell have you been?"

Pietro blinked. "Coffee, remember?"

"Three weeks ago."

Pietro narrowed his eyes. "I'm going to kill the Doctor."

Clara just rolled her eyes as she entered the TARDIS. "Three weeks!" she announced.

"You see?" Jessie turned to the Doctor, eyebrow raised as he rolled his eyes. "I told you I should have drove!"

"It's not my fault!" the Doctor protested. "I got distracted!"

Clara closed her eyes. "Please, for my sanity, leave all innuendo out of your answer when I ask this . . . by what?"

"Something big," Jessie began before blinking and looking at the Doctor before sighing. "Oh, go on."

"What?" Clara asked in confusion.

"Clara, Clara, Clara, Clara," the Doctor walked over, putting an arm around her shoulders and leading her off to a corner of the TARDIS, Pietro watching with a frown. "Clara, Clara, Clara, Clara. I need something from you. I need the truth."

"OK," Clara blinked as they sat down, their backs to the others. "Right, what is it? What's - " She paused, seeing his face. "You're scared."

"I'm terrified," he admitted.

"Of what?"

"The answer to my next question, which must be honest and cold and considered without kindness or restraint. My wife is a bit biased, you see, and the Maximoffs are her companions. I want to hear it from you."

"OK," Clara nodded, leaning forward.

"Clara, be my pal and tell me . . . " He took a deep breath. "Am I a good man?"

Clara was about to answer before she paused and actually thought it over. Well, she could say the last Doctor had certainly been a good man. This one, on the other hand? She didn't know him that much. "You were as your last self," she said slowly, trying to determine how to word her answer. "But for this you . . . I don't know."

The Doctor nodded, accepting that answer. "Neither do I," he admitted, jumping to his feet.

"I keep saying he is, but apparently, I'm biased," Jessie rolled her eyes.

"You kind of are," Clara chuckled as she walked over. "You're his wife." She paused, seeing the Doctor work the console. "Er, hey, no offense, but what about our night?" she looked at the Maximoffs.

"We need you," the Doctor answered.

"Right," Clara nodded, walking over to help. "Where are we going?"

The Doctor flipped a lever. "Into darkness."

Clara blinked, looking at Jessie, only to see her serious. "And this time, that's not an exaggeration," she told her.

+++

"Doctor," the Dalek said.

"How do you know who I am?" the Doctor demanded.

"He doesn't," Journey's uncle, Morgan Blue, answered. "We promised him medical assistance."

"Are you my doctor?" the Dalek asked.

"We found it floating in space," Journey explained.

"We thought it was deactivated, so we tried to disassemble it," Morgan nodded.

"You didn't realize there was a living creature inside," Jessie guessed.

"Not till it started screaming," Journey confirmed.

"Help me," the Dalek said.

"Why would I do that?" the Doctor snorted. "Why would any living creature help you?"

"Daleks will die."

"Die all you like. Not my problem."

"Daleks must be destroyed."

"Daleks must be de - " The Doctor blinked. "What did you just say?"

"All Daleks must die," the Dalek declared, rattling its cables as four time travelers' jaws dropped. "I will destroy the Daleks! Destroy the Daleks! Destroy the Daleks!"

+++

"A good Dalek?" Clara's jaw dropped as well.

"There's no such thing," the Doctor shook his head.

Clara raised an eyebrow. "That's a bit inflexible. Not like you. I'd almost say prejudiced."

The Doctor considered her. "Do I pay you? I should give you a raise."

Clara snorted. "You're not my boss. You're one of my hobbies."

"You know, I think that's the first time we've been called a hobby," Jessie giggled, clapping a hand on Clara's shoulder as they headed for the doors. "You're one of a kind, Zero."

"That was quick," Journey remarked.

"This is gun girl," the Doctor pointed at her as Clara looked around. "She's got a gun, and she's a girl. This is a sort of boss one. Are you the same open as before?"

"Yes," Morgan nodded slowly.

"I think he's probably her uncle, but I may have made that up to pass the time while they were talking. This is Clara, not my assistant. She's, er, some other word."

"I'm his carer," Clara said promptly.

"Yeah, my carer, she cares so I don't have to."

Jessie sighed. "Clara, meet Lieutenant Journey Blue and her uncle, Colonel Morgan Blue. Apologies for him, he's like this."

"Can you blame me?" the Doctor looked at the Dalek pointedly as they entered the lab.

"Suppose not."

"Doctor," the Dalek said.

"Hello again," the Doctor nodded.

"Will you help me?"

"Will you?" Clara asked.

"A Dalek so damaged, it's turned good," the Doctor nodded. "Morality as malfunction. How do I resist?"

"Daleks must die," the Dalek said. "Daleks must die!"

"So what do we do with a moral Dalek, then?" Clara asked.

"We get into its head," the Doctor answered.

Clara looked to Wanda, but she just shook her head. "That was not a metaphor."

***

"These are nanocontrollers," Journey said as she put a bracelet on Clara's wrist. "Once we're miniaturized, they take over the molecular compression. When the mission's over, hit the button." Clara nodded, and Journey frowned at her. "Are you sure you understand?"

"Why wouldn't I?" she asked.

"Because this is a dangerous mission, and you look like a school teacher."

"I am a school teacher," Clara raised an eyebrow, then looked over at the Doctor. "Apparently, we don't look soldier-y enough."

He snorted. "Defenders of the universe can wear whatever they want."

"So, Journey Blue?" Clara asked her. When she nodded, Clara shook her head. "I just met a soldier called Pink, and my boyfriend's nickname is Quicksilver."

Journey grinned when she saw Clara's look. "Lucky fella."

"Lucky?"

"Whoever's nicknamed Quicksilver, from the way you smile."

"So, er, who makes you smile, or is nobody up to the job?"

Journey scowled. "My brother. But he burned to death a couple of hours ago, so he's really letting me down today. Excuse me."

"What are those ones for?" the Doctor asked as they got into the nanoscaler. "I don't need armed babysitters."

"We're not babysitters," one of them, Gretchen, narrowed her eyes.

"We're here to shoot you dead if you turn out to be a Dalek spy," the other one, Ross, nodded.

The Doctor snorted. "Well, that's a relief. I hate babysitters."

"OK, listen up," Journey said as they sat down on the benches. "Now, remember, do not hold your breath when the nanoscaler engages. You'll feel like you want to, but you must keep breathing normally during the miniaturization process."

"Why?" Clara frowned.

"Picture microwaving lasagna without pricking the foil on top," Jessie told her.

"It would explode."

"So don't be lasagna."

"Nanoscaler engaging in five, four, three, two," Morgan counted down. "Nanoscaler engaging now."

"Nanoscaling in progress." Jessie squeezed her eyes shut and clenched the Doctor's hand tightly as the nanoscaler shrunk. A moment later, the computer announced, "Nanoscaling complete."

"Thank God," she groaned, opening her eyes.

"You all right?" the Doctor asked in concern.

"Yeah," she winced. "Just a bit woozy."

The Doctor frowned, then Morgan said, "Nanoscaling successful. Everyone OK in there?"

"We made it," Journey answered. "Nobody popped."

"Whoa," Clara looked around, eyes wide. "Ha! I can't believe this!"

"No," the Doctor agreed as they approached the Dalek. "Neither can I."

The nanoscaler was injected into the eyepiece, and the Doctor reached out towards it. The surface of the nanoscaler wobbled, and Morgan's voice came over. "We'll be following you all the way, Rescue One. Good luck, all of you."

The Doctor led the way out of the nanoscaler and into the Dalek's eyestalk, pausing when he was outside to help Jessie out. She stumbled a bit as she tried to regain her footing, and frowning, he reached out to help her. "You're sure about this?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she nodded.

Clara blinked as she wobbled out. "That was weird."

"I do not think that will be the weirdest," Pietro shook his head.

"What are these lights?" Wanda asked, tilting her head and looking around.

"Visual impulses traveling towards the brain," the Doctor answered.

"Beautiful," Clara complimented.

"Welcome to the most dangerous place in the universe," the Doctor said dryly.

"Entering the cranial ledge now," Journey reported into her radio, stopping at the edge of a ledge. "Here."

"Oh, my God," Wanda's eyes widened as they looked down upon the red alien tentacles.

"Behold, the belly of the beast," Jessie said dramatically.

"It's amazing," Clara looked around.

"It's huge," Ross agreed.

"No, Ross, we're tiny," Gretchen shook her head.

"We're tiny," Pietro nodded. "So how big is this compared to us right now?"

The Doctor looked up and around. "You see all those cables?"

Pietro looked up and nodded. "Yeah."

"They're not all cables."

Pietro whistled, impressed. "Does it know we're here?" Ross asked.

"It's what invited us in," Journey pointed out.

The Doctor crouched down, pointing at banks of vertical lights around the inside of a part of the ledge. "Now, this is the cortex vault, a supplementary electronic brain. Memory banks, but more than that. This is what keeps the Dalek pure."

"How are Daleks pure?" Gretchen frowned.

"Dalek mutants are born hating. This is what stokes the fire, extinguishes even the tiniest glimmer of kindness or compassion. Imagine the worst possible thing in the universe, then don't bother, because you're looking at it right now. This is evil refined as engineering."

"Doctor?" the Dalek's voice echoed around them.

"Oh, hello, Rusty," the Doctor looked up and around. "You don't mind if I call you Rusty? We're going to need to come down there with you. Medical examination and all that."

"What, with those tentacles and things?" Gretchen's eyes widened.

"How close do we have to get?"

"Well, you know, we're never going to insert a thermometer from up here," the Doctor rolled his eyes.

Journey nodded, and Ross took aim at the ledge. "No!" Jessie tried to stop him, only for Ross to fire a harpoon into the ledge, making Rusty cry out. "No, no, no, no, stop, stop!"

"You idiot!" the Doctor snapped, Pietro managing to yank the gun away before Ross could fire again.

"We need a way down," Journey scowled. "The only way - "

"This is a Dalek, not a machine," Jessie snapped. "It's a perfect analogue of a living being, and you just hurt it. What's it going to do now?"

Wanda turned around. "We have incoming."

"Oh, God," Clara's eyes widened as little round objects flew around the corner.

"What?" Gretchen frowned. "What is it?"

"Antibodies?" Wanda guessed.

"Dalek antibodies," the Doctor nodded, reaching out for Jessie's hand. "Any attempt to help him or attack those things will identify you as a secondary source of infection. Stay still!"

The antibodies opened to reveal a big blue eye, all of them surrounding Ross. "But the Dalek wants us in here," Clara frowned. "Why is it attacking?"

"Trust me, Clara, no one can control their antibodies," Jessie told her.

"Ross, stay calm," Journey told him as the man's eyes went from antibody to antibody. "We're going to get you out of this."

"Can you?" Clara asked the Doctor.

The Doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out something. "Ross, swallow that."

Ross caught what he tossed. "What is it?"

"Trust me."

Ross nodded and swallowed it. "Now what?"

One of the antibodies aimed a very bright beam at him, and he screamed. "Ross!" Journey screamed as he was disintegrated.

"Oh, my God," Clara blanched as the antibody sucked up what remained. "What's it doing?"

"The hoovering," the Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver as the antibody's blue eye turned red and flew off. He examined the screwdriver, then smiled. "Gotcha."

"What did you give him?" Pietro asked.

"Oh, just a spare power cell, but I can track the radiation signature. I need to know where they dump the bodies."

"I thought you were saving him!" Journey's eyes widened.

"He was dead already," the Doctor shook his head, wrapping an arm around Jessie. "I was saving us. Follow me and run."

"Run!" Wanda gave them a slight telekinetic push, and they all ran after the Doctor.

The Doctor pulled Jessie to a stop before they fell into a hole in the ledge. "They've dumped him in here," he said. "Organic refuse disposal. We need to get in there."

"Why?" Pietro looked down as Wanda wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Those antibodies won't give up until we're inside," the Doctor nodded to the antibodies, which Journey and Gretchen were shooting at. "I'd rather go in alive than dead."

"You don't know where it goes!" Journey warned.

"Yes, I do! Away from here! Now, in, in, in!"

Jessie jumped down without further encouragement, and Wanda followed. "I can hold them off," Gretchen began as Clara followed, Pietro going after her.

"No, you can't," the Doctor shook his head as Journey went in. Gretchen went last, and the Doctor tried to use his sonic screwdriver on the antibodies to no avail. He looked back to see everyone had gone, then he jumped down as well.

***

Clara flung gunk out of her hair as the Doctor landed in the liquid. "Urgh. What is this stuff?"

"People," the Doctor answered, making Wanda shriek in disgust and Pietro's eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. "The Daleks need protein. Occasionally, they harvest from their victims. This is a feeding tube."

"Is Ross here?" Journey asked.

"Yeah," the Doctor nodded. "Top layer, if you want to say a few words."

Journey grabbed him and pushed him against the wall, glaring lasers at him. "A man has just died. You will not talk like that!"

"A lot of people have died," the Doctor countered. "Everything in here is dead, and do you know why that's good?"

"There is nothing good about that!"

"Nothing is alive in here, so logically, this is the weakest spot in the Dalek's internal security. Nobody guards the dead. Mortuaries and larders, always the easiest to break out of. Now, if you'll let me go so I can make sure my wife isn't about to get sick everywhere, that would do nicely."

"Bad Wolf?" Wanda spun to see Jessie was leaning against the wall, taking a few deep breaths.

Journey let the Doctor go, and he was at her side in a second. "Breathe," he urged, gently massaging the back of her neck, watching her closely. "You're certain you're all right?"

"Yeah," she closed her eyes, taking a few more breaths as he kissed the top of her head. "Bad smell, stomach churning."

"You tell me the moment you feel worse."

"Yes, sir."

He nodded, then looked for a way out. "Aha! A bolt hole!"

"He'll get us out of here," Clara assured Journey as Wanda went to help Jessie straighten up. "The difficult part is not killing him before he can."

"Bolt hole," the Doctor pointed at it, using his sonic screwdriver to take out the large bolt. "Actually, a hole for a bolt." He looked around. "Does nobody get that?"

"And then there's the puns," Pietro rolled his eyes.

"Watch it," the Doctor warned, crawling inside the hole, reaching out to help Jessie climb up. Decontamination tubes are hot."

"Rescue One to Mission Control," Journey said into her radio as they all followed.

"This is Blue, Rescue One," Morgan answered. "Report."

"The Dalek has an internal defense mechanism. We've lost Ross."

"What kind of defense mechanism? That thing knows you're in there to help it!"

"Yeah, well, who knows? It's a Dalek. We're going to continue the mission."

"Are you all right back there?" the Doctor looked behind him. "It's a bit narrow, isn't it?"

Clara narrowed her eyes. "Any remarks about my hips will not be appreciated."

"Pietro?" Jessie smirked. "That would be your cue."

Pietro scoffed. "Thanks, boss."

The Doctor hopped out of the tube, then held out his arms. Jessie grabbed his shoulders, and he pulled her out. "What's that noise?" she asked, looking around as everyone else came out.

"Are you wearing a Geiger counter?" the Doctor pointed at Gretchen.

"Standard battle equipment," she nodded, taking it out. "That's just low level radiation."

"But stronger down here, for some reason," the Doctor frowned. "Gimme."

"Was that him?" Morgan's voice asked. "How's he working out?"

Journey frowned. "It's hard to say."

"He's usually like this," Wanda patted her shoulder.

The Doctor used the counter on the circuit boards, and his eyes widened. "I've got it," he said. "I know what's wrong with Rusty."

"Good," Wanda sighed, then paused when she saw his face. "Not good?"

"Well . . . " He cleared his throat. "You know how I said this was the most dangerous place in the universe? I was wrong. It's way more dangerous than that."

Journey's eyes widened when she saw the readings. "Colonel, we have radiation indicators red-lining in here," she reported. "Could be that the Dalek is badly damaged than we thought."

"Copy that," Morgan answered.

"Old Rusty here is suffering a trionic radiation leak," the Doctor said. "It's poisoning the Dalek, and us. Just as well we're here."

"Really?" Journey looked around uneasily. "Perhaps we should get out while we can. Why should we trust a Dalek? Why would it change?"

"Good question," Jessie looked up. "Rusty? What changed you?"

"I saw beauty," Rusty answered.

"Come again?"

"In the silence and the cold, I saw worlds burning."

"That's not beauty," Journey frowned. "That's destruction."

"I saw more."

"What?" the Doctor asked. "What did you see?"

"The birth of a star."

He frowned. "Stars are born every day. You've seen a million stars born. So what?"

"Daleks have destroyed millions of stars."

"Oh, millions and millions. Trust me, I keep count."

"And yet, he never kept count of how many bow ties he lost," Jessie hissed to Wanda.

She smirked. "That would be the Doctor."

"And yet, new stars are born," Rusty said.

"Every time," the Doctor nodded.

"Resistance is futile."

"Resistance to what?"

"Life returns. Life prevails. Resistance is futile."

"So you saw a star being born, and you learned something." The Doctor shook his head in disbelief. "Oh, Dalek, do not be lying to me." He gestured to everyone. "Come on."

"Heading for the trionic power cells, Colonel," Journey reported.

"Radiation approxing two hundred Rads," Morgan answered. "Danger levels."

***

The Doctor looked around as he led the group into the power cell. "We're at the heart of the Dalek."

"It's incredible," Wanda looked up at the energy arcs above them.

"Geiger counter's off the scale," Journey checked. "Looks like it's about to blow."

"Good," the Doctor nodded.

Journey scowled. "How is that good?"

"You would be surprised by what he can do under pressure," Pietro smirked.

"Rusty, can you hear me?" the Doctor called.

"Doctor?" Rusty answered.

"Rusty, we've found the damage. I'm sealing up the breach in your power cell." He used his sonic screwdriver on the power cell, then nodded. "No more radiation poisoning. Good as new. There. Job done."

"That's it?" Clara eyed the power cell dubiously. "just like that?"

"An anti-climax once in a while is good for my hearts," the Doctor nodded. "Rusty? How do you feel? Rusty?" He frowned, not hearing an immediate answer. "Rusty? Rusty!"

"The malfunction is corrected," Rusty said.

Journey frowned. "What's happened?"

"Not entirely sure," the Doctor admitted.

Lights flared on all over, making them wince. "It's waking up," Wanda realized.

"Rusty, come on, talk to me!" the Doctor called. "What's going on?"

"The malfunction is corrected," Rusty answered. "All systems are functioning. Weapons charged."

Jessie blanched. "Oh, gods, please, no."

"Exterminate! Exterminate!"

"No, no, no!" the Doctor shouted.

"Exterminate! Exterminate! The Daleks will be victorious! The rebels will be exterminated!"

"Colonel?" Journey shouted into her radio. "What's happening out there?"

All they could hear was Rusty shouting exterminate. "Doctor, what happened?" Clara demanded.

The Doctor shook his head bitterly as Jessie leaned against the wall, closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths. "Do you see?" he asked.

"Do I see what?"

"Daleks don't turn good. It was just radiation affecting its brain chemistry, nothing more than that. No miracle."

"Let me get this straight," Journey scowled. "We had a good Dalek, and we made it bad again? That's all we've done?"

"There was never a good Dalek," the Doctor shook his head. "There was a broken Dalek, and we repaired it."

"You were supposed to be helping us!"

"And we did what we could," Jessie snapped, walking up to her, pointing at her. "We gave it a shot. Not everything's all rainbows and unicorns and ends with everyone feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. If you can't wrap your head around that, Lieutenant, then I don't want to hear one other word out of you." She snatched the grenade Journey had pulled out and tossed it over her shoulder, which the Doctor caught. "But we're not done yet. We are not done until we are dead."

"Which could be in moments!"

"A lot can get done in moments." She turned around. "We came here because we thought we had found a good Dalek, and I think we all know that would make all the difference in the universe."

"But it's impossible," the Doctor shook his head.

"Is it?" Jessie quirked an eyebrow. "What is it we always say, Doctor, when someone says something is impossible?"

He looked at her fondly. "Not impossible. Just a bit unlikely."

"Journey, what the hell's happening?" Morgan's voice came from Journey's radio. "That thing's set the Daleks on us, and it's locked us out of our defenses. Journey, you're the Aristotle's only hope. I need you to destroy that Dalek, whatever it takes."

Journey swallowed. "Understood, Uncle."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah. Me, too."

"Not impossible," Jessie told the Doctor. "Just a bit unlikely."

"Never mind Clara, I need to pay you," he gave her a kiss, then walked over to Journey. "Whatever you're going to do, don't do it. This Dalek must not be destroyed. We can do better."

"Are you out of your mind?" Journey scowled.

"No. I'm inside a Dalek. I'm standing where I've never been. We cannot waste this chance. It won't come again."

"What chance? I have my orders!"

"Soldiers take orders."

"And I'm a soldier."

"And this Dalek is a better soldier than any of the others," Jessie told her. "You won't win this way."

Journey growled, then put down another grenade. "Bah! So what do we do?"

"Something better," the Doctor answered.

***

"The Dalek isn't just some angry blob in a Dalekanium tank," the Doctor said as they climbed into a recess. "If it was, the radiation would have turned it into a raging lunatic."

"It is a raging lunatic," Journey frowned. "It's a Dalek."

"Then we're raging lunatics every time hormones go crazy," Jessie pointed out.

The Doctor smirked. "But for a moment, it wasn't. The radiation allowed it to expand its consciousness, to consider things beyond its natural terms of reference. It became good. That means a good Dalek is possible. That's what we learned today. Am I right, love?"

"It's just a bit unlikely," Jessie nodded.

"But now it's back to how it was," Journey frowned.

"But what it saw, what it felt, is still there."

"Yeah, I'm not really seeing that."

"That's because it's not here." Jessie pointed up. "It's up there."

Journey looked up. "You mean in the cortex vault?"

"The evil engineering?" Clara blinked.

"Every memory recorded," the Doctor nodded. "Some suppressed, but all still intact. We need to show the Dalek that star being born again, recreate that moment. You need to get up there, find that moment, and reawaken it."

"Will do," Jessie cracked here knuckles.

"How?" Clara asked.

"Haven't the foggiest," he admitted. "Do a clever thing. And then once you've done it, the Dalek will be suggestible to new ideas. It will be open again, and I will show it something that will change its mind forever."

"What?" Journey asked.

"Not a clue."

Journey groaned. "This is crazy! There is no way that we can get back up there in time!"

"Oh, there is," Jessie nodded, eyes glowing. "Wanda? Shall we?"

"Be careful," the Doctor warned as Wanda grabbed onto Pietro and Clara, Jessie taking Journey and Gretchen.

"You're worrying about me?" Jessie smirked before leaping high into the air, flying up with the two soldiers, Wanda following behind with Pietro and Clara.

***

The Doctor continued to climb, going into the organic compartment, finally taking a look at Rusty. "Well, Rusty, here we are, eye to eye."

"You cannot save the humans," Rusty told him. "They will be exterminated. I shall join the Dalek units in the final attack."

***

"So what do we do?" Journey asked when they made it into the

"Something clever," Jessie looked around. "See all these lights that are out?"

"Yeah," Gretchen nodded.

"The Doctor said this was the memory bank," Wanda recalled.

"Exactly," Jessie nodded. "And what if these lights were memories?"

"Then the ones that are out are hidden," Pietro guessed.

"Seriously?" Journey's eyebrows shot up.

"Well, it's either that, or the lightbulbs need changing," Jessie shrugged.

"It really could be the bulbs."

"Got a better idea?"

Journey sighed. "Really wish I had."

"Well, not much we can do now." Jessie pulled off one of the panels. "Here we go. Look for lightbulbs to turn on."

The three other Defenders crawled in behind her, Journey and Gretchen staying back to guard them.

***

"I saved your life, Rusty," the Doctor told him. "Now I'm going to go one better. I'm going to save your soul."

"Daleks do not have souls," Rusty declared.

"Oh, no? Imagine if you did. What then, Rusty? What would happen then?"

***

"We're in the cortex," Clara said.

"If there's a pack of spare bulbs, break it to me gently," Journey replied.

Pietro nearly hit his head on a hanging tubing, then smacked a dark panel nearby, grinning when there was a flash. "Got something!"

***

The Doctor watched a flash travel down neurons to Rusty, watching images of dying soldiers on screens. "Your memories," he said. "I'm about to give some back to you."

***

"Are you OK?" Clara called. "Pietro?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered. "There was some sort of energy charge."

"You got the first lights on," Gretchen called.

"Of course!" Jessie grinned. "It's a brain! Brains work with electrical pathways linking up memories. Turn the memories back on!"

***

"See, all those years ago, when I began, I was just running," the Doctor said, using his sonic to cut through some flexible tubing covering neurons. "I called my self the Doctor, but it was just a name, and then I went to Skaro, and then I met you lot, and I understood who I was." He yanked the neurons apart. "The Doctor was not the Daleks."

***

"You'd better get a move on!" Journey called. "There's company coming!"

"Hurry up!" Gretchen shouted, the sound of firing coming from behind them.

"Oh, just show us the star," Wanda banged on another darkened panel, watching it turn on.

***

"Oh, look," the Doctor watched more images flow onto screens. "It's your memories again. It's like somebody's mucking about up there. Memories, all those memories. Do you remember the star you saw being born?"

***

"Almost done," Jessie crawled along. "One more to go!"

"Hurry up!" Journey called.

"Hurry up!" Gretchen repeated.

Jessie thumped one last panel, and the last of the lights turned on. "Bad Wolf, you did it!" Journey laughed. "It's rebooting! The antibodies have reset!"

***

"I . . . " Rusty paused. "I remember."

"You saw the truth, Rusty," the Doctor nodded. "Remember how you felt. You saw a star being born. The endless rebirth of the universe."

"No."

"And you realized the truth about the Daleks."

"Truth? What is the truth?"

"Let me show you the truth. I've opened your mind, and now I'm coming in." He spliced the ends of the neurons together with his hands, screaming as energy warped through him. A moment later, he was connected to Rusty. "I'm part of you. My mind is in your mind."

"I see your mind, Doctor," Rusty declared. "I see your universe."

"And isn't the universe beautiful?"

"I see beauty."

"Yes, that's good. That is good. Hold on to that."

"I see endless, divine perfection."

"Make it a part of you. Remember how you feel right now. Put it inside you and live by it."

"I see into your soul, Doctor. I see beauty. I see divinity. I see . . . hatred."

The Doctor blinked. "Hatred?" That hadn't been part of what he was expecting.

"I see your hatred of the Daleks, and it is good."

"No, no, no, you must see more than that," the Doctor shook his head, watching the Crucible explosion appear onscreen. "There must be more than that."

"Death to the Daleks! Death to the Daleks! Death to the Daleks!"

"No, there must be more than that," he shook his head wildly, even though knowing it was already a lost cause. "There must be more than that! Please!"

"Daleks are evil. Daleks must be exterminated. Daleks are evil. Daleks must be exterminated! Exterminate!" The Doctor shook his head, not sure if he should be more concerned that Rusty was turning on his comrades, or that all Rusty had seen in him was hatred of the Daleks. "The Daleks are exterminated," Rusty declared.

"Of course they are," the Doctor muttered. "That's what you do, isn't it?"

***

"Journey!" Morgan called in relief.

"Uncle Morgan!" Journey ran to him.

"I have transmitted a retreat signal," Rusty said as the two hugged. "The Daleks will believe the humans have initiated the ship's self-destruct."

"What about you, Rusty?" Clara asked.

"I must go with them."

"Of course you must," the Doctor scowled. "You've unfinished work, haven't you?"

"Victory is yours, but it does not please you," Rusty noted.

"You looked inside me and you saw hatred. That's not victory. Victory would have made a good Dalek."

"I am not a good Dalek. You are a good Dalek."

The Doctor set his jaw and nodded curtly. "Till the next time."

They watched the Doctor and Rusty go their separate ways, then Journey frowned. "Is he leaving? Isn't he going to say goodbye?"

"We really don't like goodbyes," Jessie said apologetically. She reached out and gave Journey a small hug. "Best of luck to you, Journey."

"Sorry," Clara smiled sheepishly. "Gotta run."

***

They joined the Doctor back at the TARDIS, then Journey came running up. "Doctor!" she called, and the Doctor turned to her. "Take me with you."

The Doctor seriously considered, then braced himself. "I think you're probably nice," he told her. "Underneath it all, I think you're kind, and you're definitely brave. I just wish you hadn't been a soldier."

Journey swallowed, and Jessie walked over to her. "But don't doubt that if you need us again, we won't come," she took her hands. "We will." Journey smiled tightly, and Jessie hugged her tightly. "Good luck."

***

"How do I look?" Clara asked as she ran back up the stairs.

Pietro beamed at her. "Do you need to ask?"

"Naw," Clara smiled at him, kissing him.

"OK," the Doctor announced as the TARDIS landed. "You're back in your cupboard thirty seconds after you left."

Clara walked up. "When will I see you two again?"

"Sooner or later," Jessie smirked. "Hopefully sooner. I'll pilot next time."

Clara shook her head fondly as she walked to the door. She paused as she opened it, then said, "I don't know."

Wanda frowned. "Don't know what?"

Clara turned to the Doctor. "You asked me if you're a good man, and the answer is, I don't know. But I think you try to be, and I think that's probably the point."

The Doctor smiled at her. "I think you're probably an amazing teacher."

"I think I'd better be," she smiled as she left.

***

Clara left the supply closet and nearly ran right into Danny and Rose. "Ah, hey!" Danny grinned.

"Hey, Danny!" Clara smiled. "Rose."

"Have you changed your clothes?" Danny blinked, looking her over.

Clara blinked, then sighed. "Yes," she nodded. She really hadn't thought that over. "Yes, I have. Well noticed."

"OK. Good."

"Congratulations, you passed the test," Rose teased. "You noticed something about a girl."

"Rose!" Clara shrieked.

Rose just laughed, and Danny cleared his throat. "So . . . am I really going to go for a drink with you two?"

"Yeah," Clara nodded. "Why wouldn't you?"

"I just thought - "

Clara noted him pause. "Thought what?"

"I thought you might have a rule against soldiers."

Clara blinked. "No," she shook her head, watching him go. "No, not at all. Not me."

"And that's what makes your boyfriend very lucky," Rose smiled at her.

"Yeah," Clara beamed as they walked off together. "Lucky fella."

***

Capalry and Osimoff will be the deaths of me.

Interlude coming up soon, guys!