Beware, humans: There’s a Dalek Harper, and it resides in Ontario.
Thankfully, this Dalek is more concerned with doing charity work than blazing a national election trail. Or exterminating the human species as a whole.
This non-human Harper was built by Nick Ierullo, a storage manager in Belmont, Ont. and a "Doctor Who" fan since childhood. Ierullo started working on Dalek Harper three years ago to fulfill a lifelong dream. With the help of instruction guides and tips from forums on Project Dalek, he built Harper over the course of a long winter in late 2012.
Voters chose to name the cyborg after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper in an online poll. Ierullo said he found the result "appropriate."
Dalek Harper is a member of the antagonistic Dalek species from the famous, long-running TV series, "Doctor Who." Daleks are cyborgs that can feel nothing but hate and who want to destroy all life in the universe. The grey, machine-like mutants want nothing but the worst for humanity.
Now, Dalek Harper is a regular fixture of the multi-fandom convention scene, gliding along various conventions across Ontario and sometimes hanging out with Dr. Stevil (of course), a cosplayer and interviewer from Toronto.
Harper is one of five fully functional Daleks roaming the province. They’re all part of the Canadian Dalek Empire (CDE), an organization of Dalek builders committed to “exterminating people for charity.” Although it’s not in the Dalek nature to help others, CDE gives to charities with help from the Doctor Who Society of Canada.
The Daleks go to charity events and fundraise through small-change donations from those who want to take a photo with them. And how do people react to the most evil aliens in the universe raising money for charity?
According to Ierullo, they love it so much they’ll even donate to be “exterminated.” The Daleks are equipped with carbon dioxide cannons, and blast harmless air at patrons.
The CDE has no political ties and the Conservative leader Harper probably has no idea this emotionless robot namesake exists.
We were dying to know if Dalek Harper shared any traits with its human counterpart. So we asked in the video above.
Q & A With Dalek Harper
What is your name?
MY NAME IS DALEK HARPER.
Are you running for prime minister?
NO I AM NOT I AM GOING TO TAKE OVER THE COUNTRY BY MYSELF.
Do you consider yourself a Canadian?
NO I AM FROM THE PLANET SKARO.
Well, what do you like about Canada?
PLENTY OF PEOPLE TO EXTERMINATE.
Your human counterpart really likes The Beatles, do you?
YES THEY ARE VERY TASTY.
Who has better hair: the doctor or Justin Trudeau?
IT DOES NOT MATTER. ALL HUMANS LOOK THE SAME TO DALEKS. THEY WILL BE EXTERMINATED.
Is there a Dalek Laureen Harper?
DALEKS DO NOT TAKE MATES. WE ARE INDEPENDENT. WE EXTERMINATE AS A GROUP.
If you did have a campaign, what would you want to tell voters?
VOTE FOR DALEK HARPER OR YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED. YOU WILL ALL BE UNDER DALEK COMMAND AND DALEK MASTERS. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD. YOU WILL OBEY. OBEY! OBEY!!!!
Dalek photo credit: Paul Neale
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