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"I was wondering," Adric said. YES? Death said. "I was watching 'Dalek' last night, and it occurred to me." Adric glanced at Death, hoping he wouldn't mind Adric's assumptions. "The MDO's staff... they're all suicides, right? It's the MDO's punishment for what they've done." Death nodded. YES. "So what happens when a Dalek commits suicide?" Adric said. "What does the MDO do then?" THE PUNISHMENT OF WORKING AT THE MDO ONLY APPLIES WHEN SUICIDE IS THE WORST THING AN INDIVIDUAL HAS DONE. Death said. MOST DALEKS HAVE DONE THINGS FAR, FAR WORSE. "So what /does/ happen to them?" Adric asked. HELL, USUALLY. Death said. "Oh." Adric said. DO YOU KNOW WHAT HELL IS FOR A DALEK? Death said. Adric shook his head. HELL IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED IN THEIR PURPOSE. THAT THEY HAVE NOT CONQUERED THE UNIVERSE. THAT OTHER SPECIES STILL EXIST. AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. Adric stared at Death. "...Isn't that what they /normally/ think?" IF YOU WERE IN HELL, AND YOU HAD THE POWER TO MAKE IT YOUR HEAVEN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Death said. FOR THE DALEKS, THE QUESTION IS NOT RHETORICAL. There was nothing Adric could say. --- Disclaimer: 'Doctor Who' and Adric are the BBC's. The Daleks belong to the estate of Terry Nation. Death created by Terry and Lyn Pratchett. --- |