Blackness was an overwhelming relief from the void.

Rose Tyler opened here eyes to the dull light in the cave. The cave was shaped from ice but it wasn't freezing. A fire sat in the middle and figures sat around.

As Rose sat up she realised that she was wrapped in a warm coat with fur trimmings around the cuffs and hood. Looking down from the ledge that was her temporary bed, she found black boots that had velvet feel to them. Slipping them on, she got up and made her way towards the circle.

One of the figures stood up and turned to meet her and she realised it was an Ood. John, the half human, half time lord Doctor, had told her about the Ood Sphere and the enslavement of the Ood. He had told her of the red eye and the rabid Ood that fought for their freedom and the compassion of the Ood, focused on an Ood named Sigma. He had told her that he and Donna had helped to prevent the genocide that Mr Halpen had planned for them.

As the approaching Ood got closer, she had the feeling that he was the same Ood Sigma that John had told her about. Oh John…

"We are sorry for your loss," the Ood intoned, his communication ball lighting up.

John had died two years before. He had lived for sixty years with her, growing old with her, like he had promised all those years ago on Bad Wolf bay. In fact, she should be in a hospital bed, dying of old age and a broken heart. Something was off.

Looking down at her hands, she realised that the skin was young and supple, not old and wrinkled like she had been expecting. Looking up to the Ood, she asked, "Did you do this, bring me here and make me young again?"

"Indeed, Rose Tyler. We are sorry for this but the Doctor is in danger and we believe that you may be the only one that could help him. We waited until the Doctor with you had died and you were dying yourself to bring you over as this would aid your transport." The Ood tilted his head to the side as she processed what he said.

"So I'm in my original universe?" Rose asked hesitantly, "And Doctor is in trouble?"

"Indeed." The Ood confirmed.

"Nothing changes then," Rose said with a smile. A thought struck her. "Why are you trying to help him?"

The Ood blinked at her before replying. "We wish to repay his kindness to us."

Studying him, Rose believed him to be sincere and she finally asked him. "You're Sigma aren't you? The one that John told me about."

Ood Sigma inclined his head in affirmation and Rose smiled at him. "Lead on, we have a Doctor to save." She said with confidence.

Sigma led Rose to the circle where two places were left for them.

"Rose Tyler, the elders would see you now," he said to her and waited in silence for her to sit before taking his place beside her.

Opening her mind like John taught her to, the silent cave came alive with beautiful psychic sound.

"So," she said, "tell me about the Doctor."