he Doctor stared at Johnson. For a moment they gazed at each other and neither were going to concede to the other. They stood like animals waiting for the opportunity to pounce and flight, weighing each other up and looking for a gap in the other's defence.

A noise came to them and they suddenly turned to find themselves facing the Dalek. A look of shock and surprise fell over them. The Dalek fired a shot. It cracked the air and struck the floor at their feet, driving them back. They stumbled over each other trying to get away and eventually the Dalek became too close for them to run any further.

'It's going to kill us!' Johnson moaned.

The Doctor had stopped cowering and stood upright over the war 'tank'. 'No,' he said levelly, 'It could easily have done that if it wanted to.' The Doctor stepped forward and bent down until he was peering down the Dalek's eyestalk. Both held their ground, the atmosphere was thick, almost unbreathable.

'Leave!' the Dalek grated coldly, 'Leave at once!'

'Are you alright, old thing?' the Doctor asked chattingly, 'You don't sound your usual self.'

'You will leave!' If you stay, you will be killed. This is your final warning!'

Johnson skipped up behind the Doctor, using him as a shield. He tapped the Doctor on the shoulder and hissed, 'That wasn't a Dalek voice.'

'No, it wasn't,' the Doctor replied, 'It was far too broken and weak for a conqueror from any planet.'

A bright idea suddenly came to Johnson and he laughed unconvincingly, 'It's one of my crew having a joke!' and called out, 'Reegan! Willis! Is that you?'

The Dalekanium from which it was made was heavy and armoured inside as well as out. He dropped the object to the floor and looked inside the machine. A look of revulsion crossed his face and he turned away for a moment before glancing back.

Johnson leaned over ignorantly and instantly regretted doing so. It was a full grown creature, blue skinned and covered with large pores in its skin. A number of tentacles stretched outwards, wrapped around controls of varying designs. It was as large as a human torso, and on its top were two large staring eyes which peered down the tube which was previously connected to the eye stalk. It was dead.

The skin had broken open in a number of places, as thou an intense pressure had been applied, and the innards leaked over the motor sensors built into the casing. The eyes had turned yellow and were bulging outwards, spilling to one side of the creatures face. It was like a mass of jumbled entrails wrapped in a bag that was too small to hold the amount present. The blue skin was fading, and a sharp stench filled the air, far worse than any that the Doctor could remember.

Johnson held his stomach, blurting, 'Look at the putrefaction! It's almost dissolved!'

'Yes,' the Doctor agreed unsteadily, this Dalek has been dead for months. Disgusting, isn't it?' he added unnecessarily.

'I don't get it thou,' Johnson continued, 'How did that thing move around?'

The Doctor shook his head. 'IT, didn't!' he insisted. 'The life force gained some sort of control over the machinery in the casing. Then, all it needed to do was motor the thing around and force the remnants of the Dalek's vocal chords to speak for it.' He glanced at the machine, assured that it would not do anything now. 'Should we leave?'

Johnson retrieved the dome and replaced it on top of the machine. With a small amount of coaxing it clicked into place. Johnson kicked the Dalek and turned to the Doctor