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From a small alcove set within the metallic walls, Ace watched as the Dalek glided away leaving the other two to remove the lifeless body of Zaran to his fate.
Ace watched as one of the Daleks now emitted a silvery glow from its eye which enabled the body of Zaran to float and be transported down the corridor towards their laboratory.
Once the Daleks had left the area, Ace emerged, cautiously observing her surroundings from her hiding place. She noticed along the walls of the corridor, several viewing points from which to observe outside the ship.
'We're still orbiting Saros 5.' she said to herself as she gaped at the view. 'I've got to get back and help the Doctor,' and with that, somewhat foolishly, decided to follow the other Daleks in a hope that they may well show her, inadvertently, how to get off the ship.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 ours had passed since the arrival of the Dalek ship. The Doctor and Valla had made their way back to the communications room. Valla, having cleared the room of dead bodies, now sat exhausted at one of the consoles while the Doctor had been frantically repairing the damage caused earlier by Zaran's actions.
'How are things going, Doctor?' she asked.
He didn't answer, on the account that his head was firmly stuck beneath the console unit and he couldn't hear her.
She rubbed her face with her hands, fatigue trying to get the better of her. Suddenly, there was a large bang as a whoosh of smoke emerged from the console, and from which appeared the Doctor.
He coughed: 'Nearly had it.'
'We've got to get help, Doctor. The Daleks won't wait around forever you know.'
'I know only too well, Valla,' he said, removing his handkerchief and wiping his forehead of the sweat. 'These things do take time.'
'Of which we have very little!' snapped Valla and she got up and moved over to the viewing window which overlooked the damaged landing platform.
The Doctor moved over towards her and put his hand gently on her shoulder. 'I understand how you feel, believe me,' he said gently, 'but Zaran did a very good job.'
'But what's this all about?' she asked.
'What it's always about - domination.'
'Of what?' she asked, as she turned to face him. 'this planet? the Universe?'
'Yes,' he replied. 'And of time.'
The Doctor returned to the console and continued with his work. 'Their resources must be running out,' he said as he diligently continued with the problem at hand, 'and with a new source of Taranium, they'll continue to optimise their technology of time travel and that must not be allowed to happen.'
Valla continued to view the evening sky as the other sister planets of Saros moved across its sun. As it did so, the rays suddenly caught the outline of the Dalek ship as it glided over the base.
'Doctor! The Daleks! They're back!'
The Doctor moved over to her side, as the ship hovered momentarily above the damaged landing platform before moving away and continue its orbit of the planet.
'What are they doing?'
'They appear to be waiting.'
'For what?' she asked.
'Just in case Earth decides to send reinforcements.'
'But nobody knows what's happening here. How do you expect to have any help from Earth?' Valla said, hitting the window hard with her fist.
'The Earth shuttle, was destroyed en route before I arrived here, remember? Earth will be very much aware that something is wrong, especially as they've had no contact from you in the last few days.' The Doctor did his best to reassure Valla while trying to convince himself that it was an option should his plan fail.
'Now, I've got to get this primary console working again in order to send out an S.O.S.'
Valla turned sharply to face him. 'An S.O.S. ?' she shouted, 'I thought you said Earth will send help as they've not received their daily postcard from the edge of hell!'
The Doctor was slightly startled at Valla's outburst, clearly he hadn't reassured her at all. She turned away and sat at another console with her head in her hands.
The Doctor returned to his work.
 
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saros five pt3 page2
