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Smooth, slick floors. Curved walls. Endless corridors. They were looking for the engines, to sabotage the ship. Veklin frowned. They'd come this way before, she was sure of it. Where was her map of the ship? She was sure they had been given a map too.
She halted as the corridor opened up into an circular room, with many identical corridors leading off other. The recognisable hum of Daleks echoed around the walls. It seemed to be coming from the passage to their left, but Veklin wasn't sure. She crept back a few paces, turning round to confirm Susan was still behind her. She was. In a hushed voice, Veklin told her that there was an unconfirmed number of Daleks in another corridor, and that they would have to find another way. Susan nodded silently and followed as Veklin lead the way back along the corridor. They turned another corner and Veklin froze. Four Daleks blocking the corridor. Although they were facing away, it was what they were saying made that Veklin's hearts pound faster in her ears.
INTRUDERS DETECTED. FIND AND EXTERMINATE THEM.
She was about to tell Susan what was happen, when she heard her yell.
"Veklin!"
Veklin whipped round and saw two Daleks on either side of Susan, one with its gunstick pointed right at her. How had she not heard them? She had been too focused on what was in front her, she wasn't aware enough, wasn't quick enough, but she could save Susan, she just needed to—
SURRENDER OR WE WILL EXTERMINATE YOUR COMPANION.
She could take two Daleks. She was a good shot. Hit their eyestalks, and get Susan and get out. But the Daleks spoke again, seconds later.
NEW ORDERS. YOUR SURRENDER IS NO LONGER REQUIRED. EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!
Veklin was unable to move. Her limbs felt locked in place and she couldn't look away. The blasts of energy from their gunsticks jolted through Susan's body, fast, too fast. The bright flash imprinted on Veklin's eyes, blinding her for a nanospan as she heard Susan cry out and collapse to the floor with a thud. Deadly silence. Veklin held still, waiting for the inevitable whispers of regeneration to surround Susan. Microspans passed and still nothing. She waited. Still nothing.
Veklin couldn't breathe. The ground felt like it was dropping away from her. She'd failed her mission and she'd failed to protect Susan. If she'd been quicker, smarter, better, she could have stopped this, but she hadn't and—
Veklin jolted awake, shaking, her shallow breaths deafening in the darkness. She lay there, body curled up, until her hearts pulsed slower and the dream had dissipated into no more than a vague, cold feeling at the back of her mind.