The Abomination

The Dalek was insane. Radiation had altered the structure of its mind and made it mad. 

The mark of its insanity was, that of all Daleks in the great race of Daleks, it had a name. 

It was called the Abomination. 

They had given it another name: in the imperial battle roster it was listed as the Special Weapons Dalek. 

The Emperor had decreed its creation. 

They had ripped it from its birthing cradle, aware like all Daleks. They had taken it and placed it in its shell and given it functions. But the shell they gave it was wrong, twisted, a single function monstrosity – a vast weapon and the power plant to drive it. They led it to the firing range and had it destroy to order. 

As it fired the first backwash of radiation sleeted through its fragile body. 

It served in many campaigns: Pa Jass-Gutrik, the war of vengeance against the Movellans; Pa Jaski-Thal, the liquidation war against the Thals; and Pa Jass-Vortan, the time campaign – the war to end all wars. 

Every time it fought, the radiation from its pulse gun saturated its life chamber. Chromosomes altered shape, its vestigial pituitary gland became active and hormones chased unfettered through its bloodstream. It became changed, twisted and insane. 

It committed the blasphemy of knowing who it was. 

The other Daleks feared it for its sense of self and for its name. 

They would have destroyed it. Only the will of the Emperor kept it alive. 

The shuttle commander activated the special command circuit. The Abomination’s mind came alive with data. The situation map flashed into its forebrain. Designated targets were staked out in yellow. The power plant ran up to full operation. 

Slowly the two-tonne bulk of the special weapons Dalek rose off the road surface. Section four formed up behind it. The command net channelled their sensor readings directly into the situation map. The special weapons Dalek turned the corner and moved on towards the tunnel mouth. Target renegade warriors showed up as pink blobs as sensors homed in on their heat emissions. 

At forty metres range, two renegade Daleks broke cover and cut across the far end of the tunnel. The special weapons Dalek’s scopes pinned them in digital crosswires. 

A fire was lit in the belly of the Abomination. At thirty metres range the special weapons Dalek halted. Its huge gun twisted in its mount. 

The fire in its belly erupted and was spat out the barrel at the renegade Daleks. In a single instant the two Daleks boiled away into the atmosphere. 

The concussion rocked the special weapons Dalek backwards. Then it drove on, seeking new targets.

That is why, thought the Special Weapons Dalek, they call me the Abomination...

Ace slowly turned her head. 

It was a Dalek – or perhaps was once a Dalek. 

Instead of the normal manipulator arm and gunstick arrangement, a vast gun barrel sprouted from its torso. Flanges swept back from the gun’s muzzle and terminated in concentric rings of metal. 

The Dalek was filthy. Grime streaked over its flanges and fairing. 

Ace continued to watch as it went past the van towards Ratcliffe’s yard. A phalanx of imperial Daleks followed. Ace ducked down behind the bonnet. 

‘Which blobs do you think are winning?’ asked the Doctor. ‘

The bazooka blobs,’ said Ace.