They stopped outside the swimming pool and caught their breaths.
"What…was..what..I…who?..." John panted as he stared at the woman in front of him. She was fair with long blonde hair, cascading down her shoulders from the run. She was dressed in complete black. Black leather jacket, black jeans, black boots, save for the olive green shirt she wore underneath. Large honey coloured eyes – ancient eyes. So much pain, so much power. It startled him and he quickly looked away before she could say anything.
"For a teacher, you sure don't talk like one." Remarked the woman lightly. "What are you doing here so late anyway?"
"I stayed to investigate..."
"Investigate what, exactly?"
"You're asking me this now? You saw that room, it was full of bats! Big, human sized, ugly bats! On the ceiling! They were sleeping!"
"Yeah, and your scream woke them up, well done." She started moving around and held up a silver stick with a blue light at the end. It buzzed from time to time. She started muttering under her breath and then looked at him. "What was your name again?"
"I never said. Doctor John Smith. And you are?"
Oh so this was the newest recruit. Hmm, quite a looker. Crazy hair, big hair. Pinstriped suit. And Converses? Interesting choice in footwear.
"I'm the Doctor."
"Doctor of what, exactly? And haven't I seen you before?"
"Doctor of everything. Nope, first time I've ever seen you."
"I know, you're – you're that lunch lady, aren't you? What do you mean 'of everything'? What are you doing here?"
Oh God. Not the dinner lady. She was hoping he wouldn't recognise her. Oh well.
"Same as you. Investigating. And saying that, you should go home. It's not exactly safe to hang around after school hours."
"You're telling me?"
"Yes, now shift."
"Did I mention the bats? The bats on the ceiling?"
"Several times, yes, now leave." She started to walk away but he followed her.
"But I don't understand. Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Oh lord, now he was following her around like a puppy.
"I told you. I'm the Doctor. And I'm going to investigate the bats, so you don't need to worry about it. Forget it and go home."
"But – "
"John. Go home. You must have some family waiting for you? Someone, anyone, who cares where you are, at the moment?"
"Nope, just me, really. You don't seem scared of the bats. Have you seen them before? I could help you with the investigation. Do you think they're monsters? Or like aliens or something?"
"I don't need help thanks."
"But you think they're aliens, then?" The Doctor merely smiled and continued to walk ahead.
"Wait, you believe in aliens?" John looked bewildered. Not many of his lady friends ever supported his belief of aliens actually existing. Perhaps why he was still single. Most people just scoffed and called it very John-like behaviour.
The Doctor was slightly amused. Very hard not to believe in aliens if you were an alien. It was now that John noticed they were heading back towards the 'bat' classroom.
"Hold on. We just ran from there, why are we going back?"
"Firstly, you ask too many questions. Secondly, it's not 'we' it's 'me'. You're not coming."
"But I want to know about these things, what they are, what they want. And you seem like the person who knows, so I'm sticking with you, deal or no deal. Besides, it's always better with two."
The Doctor had to admire his persistence and interest. Not many she met were as…enthusiastic about meeting giant bats who seemed to be manipulation school systems. She gave up on trying to send him away and told him instead, "Alright. If you want to come, you have to shut up and listen to exactly what I say, understand?"
"Yes, ma'am." He mock saluted her. She just rolled her eyes and muttered something about 'over-enthusiastic apes' and proceeded onwards.
"So, John, how long have you been here?"
"Around three days. I noticed something really strange about the kids. Some of them know physics like Einstein himself! I asked them the most complex questions and they make it look like a piece of cake! It made me feel uneasy so I decided to investigate. Do you know there were UFO sightings close by? It was one of the reasons I decided to move here."
"You moved here for UFOs?" She found this even stranger than the students' intelligence. "Why did you do that for?"
"Well, it's been my dream to go out in the stars and visit other planets. To see if there is actually life out there. Imagine, meeting an alien! How fantastic would that be?"
Oh you are kidding me.
"Well aren't you lucky…" She heard noises from the corridor in front and pulled back John against a wall. Only John noticed how she pressed herself to him against the wall while intensely listening out for something or someone in the next corridor. Oh wow, she was quite…pretty. And she believed in aliens. He felt like he had won a lottery.
"So do you often do this then, investigate? Because you seem to know when to hide…" He started babbling as he became more nervous and aware of her.
"Shush. Listen."
They heard strange screeching noises. Unearthly sounds. John's hairs stood on edge.
"Should we leave?" he squeaked.
"Hold on, there seems to be another signal trying to get through…" she hit the silver stick several times on her hand. "Gah, it's not – wait – I think I got it. Come on, we'll come back later. Somebody's calling us."
"Who, and how do you know they're good people? What if they're those bat aliens?"
"I have a feeling they're not. Come on then."
John followed the Doctor who followed the signal outside the school.
"Almost there…nearly…what? NO! Stupid piece of metal." She banged it a couple of times.
"What is that?"
"Sonic screwdriver."
"No really, what is it?"
"I just told you. Sonic screwdriver. The signal got lost. It was the strongest here…but there's nothing here…just an empty parking lot. I don't understand. Except…except there's a car there and if all the teachers have gone home…" she started walking towards the car and she saw – "No. It can't be."
"What is that? A tin dog? Like a machine?"
"K-9. Impossible. That means –"
She whipped around and saw a figure silhouetted against the moonlight.
"Doctor, is that really you?"
"Mickey?!"