“A reasonable assumption, given our history, Doctor,” said Davros, “but as you can see on this list of materials-” he pulled up said list- “I have no Dalekanium. Or the means to grow new Daleks. And I’m not wasting cells from my body this time.”
“Then why ingratiate yourself into Project Necromancer?” asked the Doctor.
“As you recall, Doctor, Project Necromancer is designed to enrich an individual’s blood with midi-chlorians involving an M-count transfer while keeping the subject’s DNA intact, thereby creating a successful M-count replication.”
“Something the Emperor sees as important for the Empire’s longevity,” replied the Doctor.
“Imagine if there was a successful test subject.”
“Davros, no!” retorted the Doctor. “You can’t change history like that! Not one line!”
“Oh, but this is just the beginning, Doctor!” replied Davros. “Through Project Necromancer, I shall create a warrior capable of greater power than ever before!”
“Power that would set you up above the gods?”
“Very droll, Doctor. I see you still maintain your rapier wit. …But that IS the idea.” By then, Dr. Hemlock arrived.
“Settled in, have we?” he asked. “Learned a thing or two about each other’s true nature?”
“…It seems your base has a bug problem,” remarked the Doctor.
“You know-?!” spluttered Davros.
“That you’re the psychopath that created the Daleks, yes,” replied Dr. Hemlock. “And I presume Lord Vader and the Emperor already know, given their own abilities.”
“Oh good! That saves me a long, boring explanation,” said the Doctor. “The one time I’m glad your bugs work. Then you know Davros will hijack Project Necromancer for his own ends!”
“That’s why Vader is coming, isn’t he?” hissed Davros. “To keep ME in line!”
“You and the Doctor,” corrected Dr. Hemlock.
“Much as I want to shut it down now, I can’t,” replied the Doctor. “History prevents me from acting.” At that, Dr. Hemlock smiled.
“Does it now? Very good. You can assist us.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m going to make it happen,” said the Doctor. She then found something Davros was working on. “Especially when Davros is doing something so dangerous. I can see from here that you configured the Splice-Matrix all wrong. Set it to 15.7” The Doctor made some adjustments.
“Interesting,” mused Dr. Hemlock.
“You have increased the risk of burnout!” hissed Davros.
“No, I wouldn’t worry about-.” The machine sparked, interrupting the Doctor. Dr. Hemlock checked the systems.
“…Total burnout on all circuits!” he snarled.
“It’s ruined!” snapped Davros.
“Oh dear!” replied the Doctor mockingly. “Back to square one. You really should have stayed in bed today, Davros.”
“You have deliberately destroyed my creation!” accused Davros.
“No, it was an accident!” argued the Doctor.
“An accident?!”
“Well, how was I supposed to know that whoever designed the machine failed to build in adequate safety precautions? We’ll start again and this time, I’LL design the machine.”
“How long will that take?” asked Dr. Hemlock.
“Oh, three hours, local time,” replied the Doctor.
“Very well. But know this, Doctor: any further attempts to delay Project Necromancer will result in Miss Rose being counted among the test subjects.” Dr. Hemlock then strode out of the room. The Doctor’s mind raced with plans now. Amy HAD to made safe. She then noticed Davros’ face.
“…Davros, if you’re not careful, your face will stick like that,” she joked. “Now, could you hand me those hex-clamps?”
“You sabotaged my work!” hissed Davros as he handed her the tools.
“No, no, no,” soothed the Doctor as she fastened the clamps. “There we go, that’s a good start. …Hm…could I have an Electrospanner? …Ah, thank you. And that length of wire?”
“Dr. Hemlock was clear!” hissed Davros. “We are to work together!”
“We ARE working together! I’m pleasantly surprised how well you’re fitting in as my assistant! Now, I’m going to be a bit busy. Would you mind making me some-?” Davros’ snarl cut her off. “Oh, come on, Davros, making tea shouldn’t be beyond you. After all, you can’t say team without saying tea! …Déjà vu, I swear.”
Meanwhile, Amy was talking with Lurra Rus. “What do you mean Midi-chlorian donation?” asked Amy.
“Well, have you heard of Project Necromancer?” asked Lurra Rus.
“The Doctor told me it was something that gives Force powers to someone that wasn’t sensitive to the Force by putting in microscopic organisms called Midi-chlorians. At least, that’s how she summed it up.”
“Well, the Empire noticed that I was a very distant relation to a Jedi called Aayla Secura.”
“…And they thought that would work?” asked Amy.
“My point exactly! I’m not Force-sensitive!” confirmed Lurra Rus. “But the Emperor wouldn’t hear of it!”
“So he sent you here,” remarked Amy. “…But surely Dr. Hemlock saw that you weren’t.”
“Exactly!” replied Lurra Rus. “My M-Count confirmed it! …So I don’t know why I’m here still!”
“Well, we better get you out of here so you can fulfill your dream,” said Amy.
“The Empire won’t permit it,” sighed Lurra Rus. “My family is dead and joining any resistance cell won’t bring them back. I need a new home away from this galaxy, but I don’t know if there’s a world out beyond the galaxy!”
“I can safely say there is,” replied Amy. “Believe it or not, I’m from WAY into the future in another galaxy far from here. The Doctor’s from another planet outside the galaxy as well.”
“…You traveled through time?” asked Lurra Rus incredulously.
“If you want and if the Doctor’s okay with it, you can come with us so we can prove it and maybe…find you a home where you can live out your dream?”
“…I’ll believe that when I see it,” replied Lurra Rus. “But we have to get out of here.”
“Don’t worry, the Doctor and I became experts in jailbreaks…though stealth is another matter entirely.”
“Well, I hope you can figure something out quickly, because-!” Lurra Rus quickly silenced herself when…she heard it.
“Lurra Rus?” asked Amy.
“He’s here!” Lurra Rus said in barely a whisper. Amy arched an eyeridge, then heard something. It sounded like…mechanical breathing and heavy footsteps. She looked outside the room to see a tall man, almost 7 feet tall, flanked by two Stormtroopers. He wore black armor and a black helmet that obscured his face with a triangular mouthplate with a grill. A control panel was on his chest and he wore a black cape that reached his ankles. Amy could just feel the terror the man exuded.
“…Erm…hello!” gulped Amy. The man said nothing.
“Lord Vader!” whispered Lurra Rus.
“…You are Lurra Rus, yes?” asked the man, Darth Vader.
“Y-Yes!” squeaked Lurra Rus.
“…Why is a non-Force Sensitive Twi’Lek here?” Vader asked a nearby scientist.
“Oh, come now, my Lord,” replied the scientist with ill-timed bravado. “This woman’s a relation to Aayla Secura! Her M-Count-!”
“Proved that she’s NOT Force Sensitive!” interjected Amy.
“Be silent!” said the scientist. “Those abilities are locked inside her somewhere and I …I…” The scientist then realized fingers were around his throat! INVISIBLE fingers.
“You have failed Project Necromancer and the Empire for the last time,” said Vader. Amy saw that Vader’s hand was imitating strangling someone! She put two and two together.
“Vader, wait!” she begged. “You don’t need to kill him!”
“Project Necromancer is top secret,” replied Vader coldly. “No witnesses. Regrettably, that means you and Lurra Rus cannot leave this facility alive.” He gestured with his other hand and Amy and Lurra Rus were blown back into their cell, the door shutting behind them. Amy looked through the door’s window and saw the poor scientist struggle against Vader’s Force Choke. She pounded on the door uselessly as the life was drained from the poor man. The scientist then fell limp and was casually tossed to the floor. Vader looked to the door and pressed a communication’s button. “Once I find the Time Lord and the last of the Kaleds, you’ll all join him,” warned the Dark Lord of the Sith. He then gestured for his men to follow him. They strode down the corridor.
“…A senseless waste of life!” shuddered Amy.
“That’s the Empire for you,” replied Lurra Rus.
“…Hang on, Vader said something else in that threat,” said Amy.
“…Yes, something about a…a time king and Karled?”
“Time Lord and Kaled,” corrected Amy. “The Time Lord is the Doctor, but the Kaled…wait…the Doctor said something about Kaleds before. On…” She then recalled something from early in her adventures. “…Skaro! Oh no!”
“Skaro?” asked Lurra Rus.
“Have you heard of the Daleks?” asked Amy. Lurra Rus flinched.
“Is this Skaro the homeworld of those monsters?!” she asked.
“Bingo. And they used to be life forms that walked like us called Kaleds, but their chief scientist, Davros, made them into what they are. …And it sounds like one of the scientists IS Davros. …Lurra Rus, can you think of anything we can do to get out of here?”
“I’m not exactly a charmer, I’m an engineer!” replied Lurra Rus.
“That’s good!” replied Amy. “What kind of engineer?”
“A mechanical… wait…Amy, I think the Doctor left something behind!” For once, there was hope in Lurra Rus’ eyes. “Amy, open that panel by the door, will you?” As Amy did so, Lurra Rus checked the spot where the Doctor took care of the bug. “Yes! Perfect! Miss Rose, kindly keep watch.”
“You got it!” replied Amy. Lurra Rus then got to work.