Alison flipped through a dilapidated volume and dust rose from her fingertips. The Tardis library was not what she expected. Three days ago the Doctor had brought her here in order that she might continue her studies. She had thought the library would be computerized, in fact she was certain it was computerized... somewhere. But for whatever reason the Doctor had brought her here, a place with actual books and quite a lot of actual dust.
"That isn't one of the books I gave you."
Alison jumped, she looked up to see the Doctor standing in the doorway.
"Oh it's you" she sighed in relief " I thought it was the Master lurking around again"
"Lurking" the Doctor paused "well, yes I suppose he does."
"Doesn't it bother you"
"Not really" he took the book from her and examined it "he's very restricted in the areas he can go... ah Kipling."
"Yes I finished all the books you recommended, thought I'd read a bit of poetry."
"Good choice." he said while silently flipping through the pages.
Alison walked over to one of the shelves and ran a finger along several spines.
"Doctor, I had noticed something about this library, all of these books are from earth."
"Well this is only one of several libraries in the Tardis."
"You mean there's more" she looked past him at the seemingly endless rows of books "how do you keep track of it all, I mean, there's no sense in how these books are shelved, it took me forever just to find Kipling."
The Doctor quickly closed the book and placed it on a nearby shelf, then thought better of it and placed it two shelves higher. A slightly sullen look crossed his face.
"I have a system" he replied defiantly.
"Could have fooled me" Alison responded with a smile.
"Well if you're looking for something more organized I know just the place"
He turned on his heel and strode from the room.
"Are we finally going to Egypt then" she followed quickly, trying to match his pace.
-
"Welcome to Tremond, please enjoy your stay, much joy and great learning to you" a computer cheerfully chirped as several newcomers passed through the sterile scanning grid and entered the pristine white halls just beyond.
"Doctor what are we doing here"
Alison scanned the other beings in the queue they had joined, she was trying very hard to look unimpressed by the various creatures that had gathered with them. For the most part they looked human, or at least humanoid in appearance, but there were several that were unlike anything she had ever seen before. A large bipedal reptile stood immediately behind her snorting hot breath on her neck and making the occasional low growl.
"This is Tremond, one of the greatest libraries in the known universe, the entire culture is dedicated to the acquisition and sharing of information" The Doctor looked around thoughtfully "of course we're here about eighty years later than I intended, well past it's peak. It's more of a tourist trap now than anything else."
"You mean this whole planet is a library"
"Of course, one of the largest of it's kind, and you should like it, there's not a single book. Every bit of information is stored in a data core. Easily accessible and sickeningly organized."
"You know I didn't mean anything by that."
"Too late, we're already here" he snapped, then he softened somewhat "anyway, I've been meaning to visit, you just reminded me of it. Perhaps after I've soaked up some of the intellectual ambiance of the place I'll be better equipped to organize my own collections."
The queue moved forward slowly, in the distance they could see several towers, each made of bone white, stacked platelets reaching ever upward. Above them there was no sky, only a crimson dome that encircled all, and seemed to reflect a dim light that was quickly fading. A light current of wind was blowing.
"It feels like we're underground" said Alison
"It's an energy shell" the Doctor replied as he scanned the horizon "they use it to keep track of the number of visitors, the gates are the focal point, you're scanned as you enter and all your vital statistics are then stored in it's matrix."
"All that information's up there" she gasped "it must be massive."
As they spoke the dome began to dim, and beyond the red haze, the faint twinkle of stars began to show through.
-
Visitors moved through the scanner one by one. The flow of the queue was like watching blood cells move single file through a capillary The hazy red of the specter shell tinged the scene below. Microsatellites received information from each newcomer and sent it unerringly to the source. The Doctor stepped forward into the scanning grid.
"Amplify..." a thought called out through the void "scan cerebral structure and activity." The latest arrivals looked somewhat promising.
"Well developed... ganglia and amyganglia, hippocampus" a pause "memory patterns collaterally set, redundant systems, neural safeguards, higher functions... convoluted, labrinthine... unusable."
Alison took her place in the grid.
"Homo Sapien, species on file, simple brain structure... two hemispheres, bipolar neurons, suitable capacity for memory retention, a reasonable subject... proceed."
