‘What is happening?’ she asked the Black Dalek that surveyed her. ‘How is it possible that you’re still alive?’

‘You do not need to know,’ the Dalek replied. ‘You are here to answer questions.’

‘It would help if I understood what was happening!’ Susan insisted. ‘My information would be useless to you if I’m ignorant.’

The Dalek considered the point. ‘You do not know why the humans are here?’

‘No,’ Susan admitted. ‘I was not one of them. I came here to try to stop them.’

‘If she does not know,’ the second Dalek stated, ‘then she is of no value to us and should be exterminated.’

‘No!’ Susan said, hastily. ‘I am of a faction opposing them! We are trying to stop them, so we know many of their plans.’

The Black Dalek regarded her. ‘Do not attempt to deceive us,’ it warned her.

‘Of course I won’t,’ Susan promised. ‘I want to live.’

The second Dalek turned slightly away. ‘Humans are weak creatures,’ it decided.

Keep on thinking that, Susan said to herself She had to discover what was happening, in order to halt it before any greater damage was done.

The Black Dalek finally spoke. ‘Very well,’ it agreed. ‘Then you will tell us what you know.’

‘Of course,’ Susan lied. ‘Now… how is it that you are alive? All of the Daleks were destroyed thirty‐odd years ago.’

‘That eventuality was prepared for,’ the Black Dalek answered. ‘There was always a small chance that the humans would defeat us temporarily. This unit was created as a secondary measure.’

‘A backup plan,’ Susan realised. ‘In case the primary one was defeated.’

‘Yes,’ the Dalek confirmed. ‘Information was placed in data banks that this was a research facility, and that a powerful weapon had been tested here.’

Starting to comprehend, Susan nodded. ‘So that some humans would find the information, come looking for the device and be forced to introduce power to your systems to access the device. Your computers then siphoned off the power to other uses.’

‘Correct,’ the Black Dalek said. ‘The device was a trap. This unit is a factory.’

‘Factory…’ Susan realised what it meant. ‘Where fresh Daleks would be created for a second attempt to conquer Earth.’

‘Embryos were frozen, awaiting revival,’ the Dalek informed her. ‘The assembly line was prepared. All that was required was power.’

Susan was cold with terror. ‘And the device? Is it real?’

The Dalek regarded her. ‘The device is real, but untested. That is all the knowledge you require.’ It turned to face the closest control panel. ‘Report.’

The Dalek at the panel swivelled at what should have been its waist. ‘The device is powered up,’ it reported. ‘Testing can begin within five time units.’

‘The target will be the city the humans call London,’ the Black Dalek announced. ‘Set the device accordingly.’ It turned back to Susan. ‘Now – you will tell us what we need to know.’

Susan nodded bitterly, trying to get her thoughts in order. She had to lie successfully about plans she couldn’t know to stay alive. And then she had to escape and somehow stop the Daleks before they wiped out London – and everyone that she knew and loved.

Tomlin powered down the runabout, and parked it inside Castle Haldoran. The gate guards had seemed surprised to see him back, but not suspicious. Naturally, they wouldn’t have a clue about Haldoran’s plans. They had allowed him through, and Tomlin had smiled and moved on. Now he exited the vehicle, tapping his revolver, absolutely certain that what he was doing was the right thing.

It was time to set things straight…

As the runabout came to a halt, Barlow hopped out, eager for what was to come. More Dalek guns… With them, his troops would be invincible. And, naturally, loyal to him rather than to Haldoran. With Craddock at his side, Barlow could take London and then between them they could decide what was to be done with the rest of the country. Haldoran had proven himself unfit to rule, and had to be eliminated.

And that thought stopped him dead in his tracks. Barlow had been certain that he was the one pulling the strings here, that everything was proceeding according to his plans. But what if Haldoran suspected? He already had attempted to split Craddock from him; was that simply suspicion, or more? Was this recall really to hand over more Dalek guns… or was it to get Barlow alone, and then kill him?

That was the trouble, of course, with plotting: you never knew how much your enemy knew, or simply suspected. Was it a wise move, going alone into the castle now? But what excuse did he have to take a bodyguard with him? Barlow hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Was this what it appeared to be – or was it a trap?

All right,’ hissed the Doctor to Donna. ‘We’re getting to the hard part. Eyes front, and try to look like a scared prisoner.’

They were approaching the war room. Only a few moments away from meeting Haldoran again. Donna didn’t need to pretend to look terrified.

The Doctor took a deep breath. ‘It’s show time…’

They marched towards the guarded doors.

The Black Dalek watched over the activity in the control room, noting with satisfaction that the power levels were still rising. The production of new Daleks was continuing at an increased rate.

A Red Dalek glided into the room, moving to report. This could, of course, have been done through their inbuilt communications, but being physically present to make a report stressed the Black Dalek’s importance. ‘Strike unit is prepared,’ the newcomer reported. ‘Internal packs are working at optimum.’

‘Noted,’ the Black Dalek replied with satisfaction. ‘Strike unit is to engage immediately.’

‘I obey.’ The Red Dalek sent its command.

The guard captain checked his instruments again, and then shook his head. Maybe they were malfunctioning. They were insisting that there was movement, and yet the perimeter alarms were registering nothing at all.

’There’s no sign of intruders,’ his second in command said, just as puzzled. ‘All guard stations report absolutely no activity.’

‘It doesn’t make sense,’ the captain complained. ‘These instruments have never given us any trouble before. I think I’d better call in to Estro and let him know there’s a problem. Take charge here and stay alert. I’ll be back shortly.’ He turned to head down towards the communications array, which was established close to the pit of DA‐17, and then spat out a curse.

There was movement, but not from outside the perimeter.

Something had risen up the shaft, and was emerging from DA‐17. It reflected light from the arcs set up around the pit, as if it were covered in metal. Or made of metal…

The captain realised what he was looking at the same second the Dalek opened fire. The blast took down two unprepared guards, and then the Dalek moved out. Behind it, a second rose in the shaft.

‘Oh my God…’ the captain gasped. He’d been a little worried when Estro had announced his plan to ravage the Dalek installation – but this. The Daleks were dead, for God’s sake!

Two Dalek guns fired on the guards now, their bright flashes illuminating the night. The captain could hear their screams and his shocked mind was brought back to Earth.

‘Emergency!’ he announced. All guards, targets at ground centre. Immediate firing!’ He quickly opened fire himself. But at extreme range, there was no visible effect on the two Daleks.

A third rose from the shaft. How many of them were there?

‘Get closer,’ he ordered his men. ‘Hold your fire until it will do some good.’ He dashed forward, keeping low, and seeking every last scant bit of cover he could. The humans had only one small advantage – the heavy rain had turned a lot of the ground to mud. The Daleks seemed to be moving on some kind of wheels, and the mud slowed them down. But it didn’t stop them. Guns blazing, there were now five Daleks spreading out from the shaft.