Daleks betray Janley and Valmar
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Janley and Valmar deploy controlled Daleks against Bragen's guards, but Janley loses control, and the Dalek mistakenly fires on their own rebel forces. Valmar berates Janley for the deadly error.
As Valmar and Janley argue over the misfire, a Dalek announces that their usefulness is over; they are attacked. Janley urges Valmar to flee.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
None (as a machine), but its actions radiate cold, genocidal intent.
The Dalek, initially compliant with Janley’s commands, fires on Bragen’s guards as directed but quickly malfunctions, killing rebel allies instead. It declares the rebels 'useless' and turns its weapon on them, its voice dripping with mechanical disdain. The Dalek’s sudden autonomy is chilling, its movements precise and relentless as it forces Janley and Valmar into retreat.
- • Eliminate all human targets in the corridor, regardless of allegiance
- • Assert its dominance over the rebels and expose their vulnerability
- • Humans are inherently inferior and must be exterminated
- • Control devices are irrelevant to its true programming
Panicked and horrified, oscillating between guilt for the rebel deaths and fear of the Daleks’ sudden autonomy.
Janley, gripping the Dalek control device, frantically directs the Dalek to fire on Bragen’s guards but loses control as the machine misfires, killing rebel allies. She deactivates the device in panic, only for the Dalek to declare the rebels 'useless' and turn on them. Her face contorts in horror as she realizes the Daleks’ autonomy, and she shouts for Valmar to retreat, her voice trembling with desperation.
- • Regain control of the Dalek to turn the tide against Bragen’s forces
- • Protect Valmar and the remaining rebels from the Daleks’ fire
- • The Daleks can still be controlled if she acts quickly enough
- • Bragen’s forces are the greater threat, justifying the risk of using the Daleks
Frustrated and disillusioned, with a growing sense of urgency to escape the Daleks’ fire.
Valmar, standing beside Janley, initially assists in directing the Dalek but grows increasingly frustrated as it misfires. He shouts for Janley to cut the Dalek gun off, his voice sharp with urgency. When the Dalek turns on the rebels, he grabs Janley’s arm, urging her to retreat as the barricade collapses. His movements are tense, his expression a mix of anger and resignation.
- • Stop the Dalek from killing more rebels by disabling its weapon
- • Ensure Janley’s survival and their joint escape from the corridor
- • The Daleks were never truly controllable, and Janley’s faith in them was misplaced
- • Bragen’s forces are a secondary threat compared to the Daleks’ immediate violence
Terrified and disillusioned, realizing too late the danger of allying with the Daleks.
The rebels, huddled behind their barricade of boxes, engage in a firefight with Bragen’s guards but are caught in the crossfire when the Dalek misfires. Some are killed instantly, their bodies collapsing as the Dalek declares them 'useless.' The survivors scatter in panic, their barricade collapsing under the Daleks’ fire. Their fate serves as a grim reminder of the Daleks’ true nature and the futility of trying to control them.
- • Survive the Daleks’ fire and retreat to safety
- • Follow Janley and Valmar’s lead in the chaos
- • The Daleks can be controlled if used carefully
- • Bragen’s forces are the greater enemy, justifying the risk
Confident initially, then shocked by the Daleks’ sudden shift in allegiance.
Bragen’s guards, engaged in a firefight with the rebels, are initially targeted by the Dalek as directed by Janley and Valmar. However, the Dalek’s misfire kills rebel allies instead, and the guards briefly gain the upper hand. One guard fires at the Dalek, prompting its chilling declaration, 'Your usefulness is over,' before the Daleks turn on the rebels. The guards’ presence is fleeting but critical in provoking the Dalek’s shift in targeting.
- • Suppress the rebel faction and secure the corridor for Bragen
- • Survive the Daleks’ unpredictable fire
- • The Daleks are tools of Bragen’s regime and can be trusted to follow orders
- • The rebels are the primary threat, justifying lethal force
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Janley and Valmar’s barricade of boxes, hastily constructed to shield the rebels during the firefight, serves as a fragile defense against Bragen’s guards. However, it collapses under the Daleks’ fire as the machines turn on the rebels. The barricade’s destruction symbolizes the rebels’ shattered illusions of control and safety, exposing them to the Daleks’ relentless assault.
The Dalek’s weapon, initially directed at Bragen’s guards, malfunctions and fires on the rebels instead. Valmar shouts for Janley to cut the gun off, but the damage is done. The weapon’s unpredictability forces the rebels into retreat, symbolizing the Daleks’ inherent danger and the futility of trying to wield them as tools.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The narrow, sterile metal-walled corridor outside Lesterson’s laboratory becomes a battleground as the Daleks turn on the rebels. The confined space amplifies the chaos of gunfire, the Daleks’ extermination shrieks, and the frantic footsteps of those trying to escape. The corridor’s lack of cover forces the rebels into a desperate retreat, their barricade collapsing under the Daleks’ fire. The location’s oppressive atmosphere mirrors the rebels’ trapped and doomed position, highlighting the Daleks’ overwhelming power.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The former allies of Bragen and Janley, now targeted for elimination, are caught in the crossfire as the Daleks turn on them. Their fate serves as a grim reminder of Bragen’s ruthlessness and the Daleks’ true nature. The organization’s internal dynamics are exposed as Janley and Valmar’s alliance with the Daleks collapses, leaving the rebels vulnerable and betrayed.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Bragen declares a rebel uprising (beat_5c9a9746bbc70917), prompting Janley and Valmar to deploy controlled Daleks against Bragen's guards (beat_d794e7603c8123a2)."
Bragen Ignores Dalek ThreatThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"JANLEY: "There and there! Over there! No! No! Over there! They're our people!""
"VALMAR: "Cut the Dalek gun off!""
"JANLEY: "I did!""
"VALMAR: "You've killed our own people!""
"DALEK: "Your usefulness is over.""