The year 2014, the location a small cruise ship named the Seven Voyages, it was found drifting on the Atlantic Ocean with most of it's crew dead or missing, the only ones found where either injured or in a state of crippling madness. Another mystery or for some curiosity is the strange mucus that was found on some places of the vessel and that covered a few of the corpses, specially the ones in worse shape.
During what would be it's last voyage, the cruise was going form Australia to England, on board where only 200 passengers from the possible 500 that the vessel could carry. Not many people liked to make this trip as by that time the UK was being stormed by extreme cold, but some needed to return home, others wanted to meet family or just go see new places, even under such unpleasant conditions.
Like may others of it's kind and purpose the Seven Voyages had some higher level quarters, the suites, the biggest, more beautiful and most expensive one belonged to Samantha Cumberbatch, a young 25 year old girl know by some by her shadow covered past and her whelp, something that over the years has attracted several interested suitors which for some reason always run away after a day, of course that's when they don't disappear. But for what is such a wanted woman she is very alien in appearance with very defined eyes, almost as if they were going to bulge out, also she has small ears, her skin is a very light blue color like the waves of the sea she travels through and her neck is said to have strange malformations similar to gills. But she is nothing compared to some of the people she travels with all of them men, normally older and that share similar aspects to her from what people say but no one really says much as something about them touches deep in the past of our race making it terrifying to do so, even if some of the older people who say she as the Innsmouth look.
This suite was almost like her home as many of the ships routes seemed to be the same as hers, almost as the ship belonged to her, the room was forever hers as it's always rented either for her or someone else, not many saw it's interior both when someone would stumble into it or some of the cleaning crew entered, there was always someone to put them out as if something was being kept away from the outside world. Some of those who could see something before one of Samantha's escorts would block their view, some reported strange decorations made to the liking of the owner.
On this trip, hid on the lower decks of the vessel was a container she had arrange to be transferred to England, the cargo inside was said to be a very fragile structure with future use in a building that would be raised in the UK, still it was shadowed in curiosity, even some minds who said that they heard other wordily voice coming from it, still these where nothing money or a simple lie couldn't resolve.
One rather stormy night Samantha was dining with the captain of the vessel, Adam White a tall, lean 40 years old man with dark grey hair and dark brown eyes, like always it was a pleasant occasion they had many conversations about the ocean and trips they use to make world wide, specially the different things they had seen that not many would get the chance to do, but she always seemed to see these things as boring even if she would always laugh and do some polite reply to the old sailor. The meal was in the mid of its progress when she felt something, a feeling also felt by the two escorts that were eating on the table to their left, she darted a quick look at them which they immediately recognized. Not even caring to finish their food, they rushed out the of the Dinning Hall and made their way to the source of this disturbance.
The anomaly was a old blue police box, that somehow appeared in one of the empty rooms of the lower decks, from it two people came out a the Doctor and Rose.
''Rose after what happened last time with your father I think that both of us deserve a good rest, and as you can see so does the TARDIS as we seem to be on a ship, most likelly a cruise.'' the ninth Doctor said taking the few first steps out of the box
''Let me guess you smelled where we were because this could be the interior of any thing.'' Rose replied
''Something like that. So do you want to see what awaits us?'' he said in a enthusiastic tone
''What if someone enters and sees the Tardis?'' she asked showing more worry then the owner of the machine
''This room is empty! We can stay here and with some alterations and we might as well have been on this boat since the beginning.'' he replied with invigorated confidence
From the door both of their heads emerged looking around at the empty corridor, or so it seemed, the Doctor caught someone turning the corner away from their direction, quickly he moved out of the door and with few long steps he made his way to that corner that lead to the mail hall. There he saw two men walking away both wearing old tuxedos but even with shades being thrown by the small ceiling lights he could naturally acknowledge something wrong in their anatomy, at least something wrong for a human.
''Doctor what's wrong?'' asked Rose in a whisper
''Those two men over there, I think they saw us exiting the room...'' he said before being stopped mid sentence by his companion
''So? It's impossible for them to know that that room is empty.'' she replied
''Maybe, but there was something wrong with them, I can't put my finger on it but it seems familiar.'' he continued in a deep thoughtful tone
''This place isn't that well lit so maybe the shadows were playing some trick on your eyes, maybe this is a sign you do need some rest.'' to this the Doctor looked back with a raised eyebrow
''Now that's just doesn't make sense, alright let's explore this ship.'' he said still thinking about those men
As the two men made their way back to the Dinning Hall where they meet Samantha and two other of her escorts.
''Was it what I think it was?'' she asked her two servants
''We did not see the machine but he was accompanied by a woman and the description was similar.'' one of them answered with a strange voice, as if he was underwater
''Keep an eye on him, just one of you, I need someone else to keep an eye on the cargo. This storm seems to promise much.'' she said, whit a perverse grin, looking up at the glass ceiling where the rain drops fell with tremendous force and the lighting dispersed across the skies, the two were automatically dispersed from that area to their respective goals.
The Doctor and Rose after navigating a few corridors found themselves on the vessels bar, several people walked around with drinks, some stayed near the bartender for more easy access to what they desired while others simply sat down and enjoyed the company of others. To the right of the entrance to the bar was a older looking door which lead to the outside tables where some people were socializing over a smoke. They decided to go there even if the storm hitting the glass protection, they sat at the furthest table from that entrance.
''I think I'm going to go get a drink. You want something?'' Rose asked as the Doctor sat down
''I'm fine thanks. I'll stay here and watch this lovely image.'' he replied to a somewhat surprised Rose
As she walked away he faced the storm hitting the glass, still those men hadn't left his mind something in them was so familiar yet he couldn't place his finger on what. While his thoughts ran by several possible things, yet his listening picked up someone approaching him, someone who was much heavier then Rose and had a strange walk.
Looking back he saw one of the gentleman that for so long haunted his taught, soon he made eye contact and saw the unearthly bulging eyes, grayish skin tone, small ears, receding hair line and from his neck small ridges could be seen creeping up from it, but much to his surprise the man didn't say a word he simply went to the table to the left and started smoking in what seemed to be a very casual thing.
Rose arrived soon after and sat to the right of the Doctor following a gesture he made, as she sat down putting her drink on the table her eyes glanced on the man for a moment she looked at him till he Doctor placed himself in front of her.
''What's wrong?'' he asked calmly
''That man on that table he looks strange.'' she said in a distant tone
''Do not look at him. He's one of those two that I saw, it's best if he doesn't notice if you are looking at him.'' he replied in a strict voice
''Still, his head and neck...'' she continued showing a unwanted interest much to the Doctor's apprehension
As they continued to talk another individual, similar to the one smoking, approached the latter placing a hand on his shoulder whispering something to him. As the Doctor and Rose tried to look normal, the both men faced them with the obvious intent to speak. For a while a certain awkwardness fell over the four individuals, the Doctor seeing that they didn't seem to start he made the honors.
''Hello, I'm John Smith and this is my friend Sarah.'' trying to lie is way out of this he tried to make himself and Rose seem as boring as possible
'' Cumberbatch request for your presence in her chambers.'' the one that was smoking said in their peculiar voice after putting down the cigar in the ashtray
''Well we are very honored by your request but...'' he was about to decline the offer when Rose started talking
''We would love to meet her!'' she spat in a loud tone after taking a drink
''Good. Please follow us.'' the recently arrived escort said