Katie in Manhattan
Chapter 9
"Picking a human"

Early the next morning after a few hours sleep, Sec yawned then opened his eye wearily, then smiled when he saw he was next to Katie. He closed his eye again then tried to think of what important thing he needed to do.

"Can't be too important if I can't remember," Sec muttered as he got himself comfortable again. Sec then remembered it was about the Gamma Strike.
"Oh yeah the Gamma Strike. I knew I'd remember soon," Sec thought as he was half-asleep. After a few rels his thoughts hit him.
"Gamma Strike!" Sec yelled as he jerked awake. Sec groaned then sighed in relief that he didn't wake Katie. Sec carefully moved Katie's arm that was cuddling him then stroked her hair slightly making her smile in her sleep.
"So soft to touch," Sec murmured to himself.
"I got work to do Katie. I'll check on you later my love" Sec then climbed into his casing still half-asleep and crashed into one of the lab tables knocking something off.
"J!"

"So it's alright for you to swear and not for me?" Thay moaned.

"Do as I say. Not as I do!"

"Hey! That's not fair!"

"Shut up Thay. It's too early," Sec yawned as he stopped by the computer.

"Sleep well?"

"Yes. Even though Daleks don't really need sleep"

"You needed it Sec. Just like last time your fear got to you. Remember?"

"No"

"When I said it would be our secret?"

"I remember that bit but I don't know anything after that. What happened?"

"Oh....um....nothing much," Thay said nervously.

"Thay?" Sec said sternly

"Yes?"

"Tell me what happened"

"I don't want to," Thay said sadly. Sec was about to say it was an order when he noticed that Thay's eye-piece was looking at the floor and he was trembling slightly.

"Come on Thay," Sec coaxed. "You can tell me"

"You collapsed in my arms from a mix of exhaustion and shock of me finding out about your fear"

"I collapsed? How long was I out for?"

"Two days. Don't worry," Thay said as he looked up. "I made sure you were Ok. I....also lied to our Emperor saying that you had an unknown problem with the communication receiver"

"The Emperor? He tried to contact me?"

"Yes. I lied to him saying the communicator was non-functional and I repaired it so he wouldn't send anybody else to fix it"

"Is that all?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think you told me everything yet. Lying to the Emperor is quiet serious but I don't think you would have kept that secret from me for all these years. There's something else isn't there?"

"Yes," Thay said as his eye-piece dropped to the floor again. "Just after you collapsed I heard something behind me and I saw a Dalek Supreme spying on us. He was planning to exterminate me because he honestly believed I should have been killed as a Hatchling for being too small. And when he saw you with your fear he said you would be next. But....I shot first"

"So that's it? You regret killing a Dalek Supreme?"

"I don't regret what I did! And I'd do it again! He threatened you. My own brother. I would have taken on a whole fleet if I needed too"

"Thay I keep telling you to tell me about things like this. Why didn't you tell me all this before?"

"I was scared alright!!"

"Scared? Scared of what? Of the Emperor finding out the things you did?"

"Myself!"

"What?! Why?"

"When the Dalek Supreme threatened you I went berserk. I couldn't control myself. I felt so much hatred for that Dalek that I couldn't even reason with myself and I killed him. I was so scared that it could happen again so I kept everything to myself and chucked the rest of the Supreme's remains in the incinerator"

"Thay," Sec sighed as he glided by Thay's side. Next time anything like this happens again will you promise to tell me?"

"I promise Sec"

"Good. Now I got work to......do. Thay! Where's my calculations on the Gamma Strike!"

"Chill out Sec. I finished it off for you while you were having a rest"

"Chill out? Where did you get that saying from?"

"While we were still in London. I heard some human say it somewhere. Anyway now you have more time to pick a human to use in the Final Experiment"

"But....I  don't know which to use. I can't decide"

"Why don't you use Diagoras?"

"Diagoras? Eric Diagoras?!"

"Um....maybe?" Thay said as he reversed slowly from Sec.

"WHAT! No way! I'm not using that greedy, selfish human! He's the last human I would have thought of using. Why would you suggest such a thing?!"

"Just give me a few rels and I'll explain," Thay gulped as he continued to reverse slowly.

"Then start explaining. And make it good"

"I suggested him because Caan likes him"

"Caan likes him? That doesn't surprise me"

"Caan always orders Diagoras to do the stuff we can't do ourselves and he might follow your orders if you use him"

Hmm I haven't thought of that," Sec remarked. "I'll....I'll think about it. I still don't fancy the idea of using him. I know that Diagoras has a strong dislike of Katie. What if I end up being more like him? The thought of that just scares me"

"I'm sure you'll be fine Sec. You're much stronger than he is"

"Don't rush me Thay. I'll....think about it" Sec looked over to Katie and sighed unhappily. "I....have to think about it," Sec replied, his voice trembling as he went elsewhere in the lab.


Later Sec was watching the flames on one of the Bunsen burners still thinking about using Diagoras when Jast came back.

"I'm back Commander"

"Huh? What?" Sec said as he looked up, startled. "Jast...you took your time"

"I know but I couldn't find Caan anywhere. I only just finished"

"I'm going to kill that lazy Dalek when I see him! Thay! Go with Jast and help him store the rest of the human shells in the caverns. We're running short of time now"

"We obey!" Thay let Jast go ahead, then whispered to Sec.

"Sec. If you start feeling funny go to Katie. Got it?"

"Yes," Sec sighed. "I will. Go on then. Shoo!"


A little while later Sec was still thinking about which human to use when he noticed Katie waking up.

"I might as well talk to Katie," Sec sighed to himself. "It will get my mind off the Final Experiment"

"Hi Katie"

"Hi Sec. Are you feeling better?"

"Yes. Thanks to you and Thay"

"Are you Ok Sec? You sound a little tense"

"I am a little tense. About the Final Experiment"

"What's troubling you?" Katie asked as she held him in her arms.

"Thay suggested I use Diagoras for the Final Experiment"

"Diagoras?! Why him? Isn't there anyone better?"

"He's our best option so far if that sounds possible. I'm just so scared about using him"

"Why's that Sec?"

"I know he doesn't like you. What if I use him and evolve but I end up being more like him than the way I am? Then I wont love you anymore," Sec's voice trembled as a single tear fell from his eye.

"Aww come here you," Katie sighed as she wiped away his tear away. "That will never happen because you are more caring and much nicer than Diagoras could ever be.......Eww! I can't believe I just said that! That sound so corny" Sec smiled then cuddled Katie tightly.

"It doesn't matter Katie. I really needed to hear that. It makes me feel much better"

"You're welcome Sec but don't let it bother you too much. You'll be fine" Sec looked up into Katie's eyes thoughtfully then kissed her passionately on the lips making her blush. After the kiss Katie smiled at Sec.

"You enjoy that Sec?" Sec looked at Katie smiling deeply, swayed then collapsed.

"SEC!! Katie yelled as she caught him in her arms. Sec are you alright?" Katie asked concerned, shaking him slightly. Sec wake up! Please! SEC!! Sec finally stirred then shook his head as he came around.

"WOW" Sec grinned.

"Are you alright Sec? You're not ill again are you?" Katie asked as she felt his temperature. Sec just looked at her smiling wildly.

"No. I'm fine"

"So what just happened?"

"Emotionary overload. It felt great while it lasted. It felt so good that I want to do that again!" Sec grinned as he kissed her again, deepening the kiss a little more this time. After the kiss Sec swayed again but didn't faint this time.

"Wow! That felt great too!" Sec squeaked happily as he cuddled up to Katie and started to stroke her hair. "I love your hair Katie. It's so soft to touch"

"I washed it the other day Sec. I'm glad this building has a shower"

"Nothing happened when Jast escorted you?"

"No everything was fine"

"I'm glad nothing happened to you," Sec grinned.


Caan groaned as he entered the lab. He felt terrible, his headache was now making him sick and he was unfortunate enough to see Sec and Katie kissing. Caan's eye-piece widened in horror and he turned away from the sight and started to feel sick.

"That is so wrong! So.......Un-Dalek!" Sec turned around seeing something in the corner of his eye.

"Caan? Where have you been!" Sec growled as he got back into his casing. "Thay and Jast had to do their own jobs and yours because of your laziness!" Sec roared as he stopped in front of Caan

"I'm not lazy! I've just been sick for ages because of this huge headache I got when someone threw me out of a window!"

"Good! You deserve it after what you tried doing to Katie!"

"And what do you think you're doing by kissing that human?! You're a Dalek! Have you completely lost your mind?!"

"That's none of your business Caan! I love her and if you don't leave the two of us alone I throw you out of the window again! From an even higher floor next time!" Caan cringed as Sec was shouting that last bit too him. Every word he shouted made his headache feel even worse and Caan cringed in agony when a alarm above the lift sounded.

"Diagoras," Sec groaned. What does that fool want now?! Caan! See what he wants!" Caan feeling too ill to complain just nodded and entered the lift.

"Two pig slaves will go with you. Tell Diagoras that the Gamma Strike has accelerated and we need more humans immediately"

"Fine," Caan moaned as two pig slaves joined him. As soon as the lift doors closed Sec went to the battle computer and opened Caan's visual link.

"I don't trust him and I'm not taking anymore chances. There. Established visual contact," Sec said to Katie as he started to watch.


Caan looked up to see what floor they were passing. In a couple of rels they had passed 20 floors.

"Why are human lifts so slow!" Caan moaned in complaint, He sighed as he waited then heard voices from a floor above but couldn't quite make it out. The only bit he heard clearly was when he was nearing the top floor.

"Behold your Masters" Then the lift doors opened.

"I have been summoned. Explain. Explain!"

"It can talk," The foreman pointed as he stepped back. "How does it talk? And what the hell are they?" as he pointed to the pig men. You got to be kidding me?" Caan glared at Diagoras and was about to yell at him for letting other humans see them but Diagoras spoke before he had a chance to.

"I'm sorry my Lord, but this man is refusing to complete the work"

"Then we must replace him"

"Is anybody gonna tell me what the hell is happening here?"

"Use him! Take him for the Final Experiment!" The two pig slave stepped towards the foreman and grabbed him by the arms and started dragging him towards the lift.

"What's going on? Let go. Let go of me. Get off of me you freaks!" Caan and Diagoras just stood and watched while the pig slaves continued to drag the petrified foreman into the lift. Caan turned to Diagoras not caring even for a rel about the foreman.

"The Empire State building must be completed in time"

"It will be, trust me. Labor is cheap and that man can be replaced"

"The plan must not fail. We calculate the Gamma Strike had accelerated. We need more bodies immediately!"

"Yes Master

"And you will get some workers to finish the mast when you get back before you get a new foreman!"

"Yes Master" Diagoras then went to his desk and picked up his mug and drank a gulped a couple of mouthfuls then went to the window. Caan being curious followed him.

"What are you doing? I said immediately!"

"I will my Lord. I'm just getting rid of the rest of my coffee," Diagoras said as he chucked the remains of his mug out of the unfinished window. Caan glanced down then realized how high up they both were. His eye-piece widened and he reversed quickly away from the window trembling slightly.

"Are you Ok my Lord?"

"Yes! Just get going!"

"Yes Master" After Diagoras had gone Caan looked at the view from a safe distance but still had to turn away because the hight was making him nauseous.

"Sec's going to pay for this! I'll get my revenge on you Sec!!" Caan growled evilly. "No one throws me out of the window and gets away with it!"

Sec looked at the visual link and shook his eye-piece in disbelief.

"Sec? Caan's just saying that isn't he?" Katie asked as she watched the screen.

"Yes. He wouldn't dare try anything. Not on his own anyway. But we still have to watch him. I don't trust him one bit"

"Who doesn't Sec? Katie smiled as she put a arm around his casing. "Who doesn't"